+ Minor planets discovered: 142 see

is a Japanese amateur astronomer, discoverer of minor planets, and, by profession, a junior high school science teacher. As a planetarian, a member of the professional staff of a planetarium, he has done much for the spread of astronomy in Japan through speaking on planetaria and the results of astronomical observation.

In 2001, while working as support staff at JK1ZAM, the club station of Iruma Children’s Center (an educational institution for children in Iruma City), he helped achieve the first ARISS school contact in Japan. Also, in 2003, as a coordinating teacher, he helped accomplish the first solo contact between a junior high school in Japan and the ISS, with the support of JK1ZAM. He regularly spoke on the astronomical talk program Sunset Café at the local radio station "FM CHAPPY 77.7" from December 2006 to November 2008. He held the position of vice-director on the board of the Saitama Planetarium Liaison Council (2007–2008). He supports ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station), which is a program that offers students an opportunity to experience the excitement of amateur radio by talking directly with crew members of the ISS (International Space Station).

The Eos main-belt asteroid 6025 Naotosato, which Takeshi Urata discovered in 1992, was named after him.

Discoveries of minor planets

Since 1995, Satō has discovered a large number of minor planets from his own Chichibu Astronomical Observatory at Chichibu, including asteroids such as 7038 Tokorozawa, 7851 Azumino, 8581 Johnen, 8924 Iruma, 9418 Mayumi and 118230 Sado. He is ranked among the top 50 asteroid discoverers in the world (The Astronomy Yearbook – 2008). The Minor Planet Center credits him with the discovery of 142 minor planets during 1995–1998, of which 18 were co-discoveries with astronomer Takeshi Urata (also see table). Naoto Satō is also known for the prediscovery of C/1989 Y2, a parabolic comet credited to McKenzie–Russell.

List

7038 Tokorozawa 22 February 1995 7851 Azumino 29 December 1996 8581 Johnen 28 December 1996 8924 Iruma 14 December 1996 8933 Kurobe 6 January 1997 9230 Yasuda 29 December 1996 9418 Mayumi 18 November 1995 10224 Hisashi 26 October 1997 10880 Kaguya 6 November 1996 10916 Okina-Ouna 31 December 1997 16 November 1995 16 November 1995 12027 Masaakitanaka 3 January 1997 12031 Kobaton 30 January 1997 12432 Usuda 12 January 1996 12456 Genichiaraki 2 January 1997 12460 Mando 3 January 1997 12469 Katsuura 9 January 1997 13188 Okinawa 3 January 1997 13654 Masuda 9 February 1997 23 November 1997 15884 Maspalomas 27 February 1997 15916 Shigeoyamada 25 October 1997 21 October 1995 16723 Fumiofuke 27 November 1995 16790 Yuuzou 2 January 1997 16796 Shinji 6 February 1997 16826 Daisuke 19 November 1997 16853 Masafumi 21 December 1997 17612 Whiteknight 20 October 1995 17656 Hayabusa 6 November 1996 17657 Himawari 6 November 1996 1 December 1996 18469 Hakodate 20 October 1995 13 January 1996 18520 Wolfratshausen 6 November 1996 18553 Kinkakuji 6 January 1997 20193 Yakushima 18 January 1997 21250 Kamikouchi 17 December 1995 21302 Shirakamisanchi 1 December 1996 21348 Toyoteru 1 March 1997 22470 Shirakawa-go 9 February 1997 13 October 1995 23628 Ichimura 8 December 1996 30 December 1996 23638 Nagano 6 January 1997 23649 Tohoku 1 February 1997 18 November 1998 25302 Niim 9 December 1998 26223 Enari 3 December 1997 3 December 1997 17 December 1995 26990 Culbertson 23 November 1997 26998 Iriso 25 December 1997 27918 Azusagawa 6 November 1996 27982 Atsushimiyazaki 26 October 1997 27991 Koheijimiura 6 November 1997 27997 Bandos 23 November 1997 28173 Hisakichi 11 November 1998 28174 Harue 12 November 1998 29420 Ikuo 9 January 1997 9 January 1997 29514 Karatsu 25 December 1997 11 November 1998 1 December 1996 14 December 1996 29 December 1996 31087 Oirase 9 January 1997 31095 Buneiou 27 February 1997 31179 Gongju 21 December 1997 5 January 1998 1 December 1996 32990 Sayo-hime 30 December 1996 1 February 1997 23 November 1997 3 December 1997 25 December 1997 6 February 1997 21 December 1997 21 December 1997 1 December 1996 14 December 1996 24 December 1997 18 January 1996 9 January 1997 26 October 1997 6 February 1997 13 October 1995 1 December 1996 30 December 1996 6 November 1997 23 November 1997 11 November 1998 23 November 1997 17 December 1995 25 October 1997 25 October 1997 26 October 1997 26 October 1997 3 December 1997 21 December 1997 8 December 1996 21 October 1995 8 December 1996 2 January 1997 3 January 1997 25 December 1997 2 January 1997 24 December 1997 30 November 1996 8 December 1996 6 November 1997 19 November 1997 3 December 1997 1 February 1997 6 February 1997 3 December 1997 3 December 1997 24 December 1997 24 November 1995 1 December 1996 25 December 1997 5 January 1998 11 November 1998 118230 Sado 30 November 1996 1 December 1996 120741 Iijimayuichi 26 October 1997 18 November 1998 19 November 1997 136743 Echigo 16 November 1995 29 December 1996 1 December 1996 11 November 1998 23 November 1997 11 November 1998 21 December 1997 3 December 1997 15 January 1997 2 January 1997 23 November 1997 3 December 1997 31 December 1997 Co-discovery made with: T. Urata

See also List of minor planet discoverers

References