Akihiko Tago

Akihiko Tago (多胡 昭彦 Tago Akihiko, 1932-) is a Japanese amateur astronomer.

He co-discovered several comets, including C/1968 H1 (Tago-Honda-Yamamoto), C/1969 T1 (Tago-Sato-Kosaka), C/1987 B1 (Nishikawa-Takamizawa-Tago). At the Satsuki Observatory established in 1996, Tago has supported and encouraged amateur astronomers in Yanahara, Okayama. C/1993 DC1 (Akihikotago) was named to honor his dedication.

He also discovered several novas, including V1493 Aql (Nova Aquilae 1999), V2275 Cyg (Nova Cygni 2001 no. 2),^[1] V574 Pup (Nova Puppis 2004), V2467 Cyg (Nova Cygni 2007) and V459 Vul (Nova Vulpeculae 2007 no.2).^[2]

In 2006 he was the first astronomer to discover a micro-lensing system outside the Magellanic Clouds^[3] and the bulge of our Milky Way. The star GSC 3656-1328 suddenly brightened by four magnitudes in two weeks time and returned to its normal brightness two weeks later. A red or a brown dwarf star passed exactly in front of GSC 3656-1328 and the gravity of the dwarf star directed more light to the observers on Earth.^[4][5]

He lives in Tsuyama, Okayama.^[6]

Publications

• Tago, Akihiko (1970). "鈴木・佐藤・関彗星 (1970m) の発見事情" [The discovery circumstance for comet (Suzuki, Sato, Seki 1970m)]. The Tenkai (in Japanese). Kobe, Japan: Oriental Astronomic Association. 51 (547): 368. ISSN 0287-6906.
• Tago, Akihiko (1971). "エンケ彗星の写真" [The comet Enke in photograph]. The Tenkai (in Japanese). Kobe, Japan: Oriental Astronomic Association. 52 (548): 548. ISSN 0287-6906.
• Tago, Akihiko (1982). "マイコンを活用した私の能率的な彗星捜索" [Personal computer helps efficient asteroid hunting]. 天文と気象 Astronomy and Meteolology (in Japanese). Japan: 地人書館 Chijin shokan. 48 (8): 32–35.
• Tago, Akihiko (1999). "本田実先外との星空会話の思い出" [My astronomical dialogue with Minoru Honda]. The Tenkai (in Japanese). Kobe, Japan: Oriental Astronomic Association. 80 (895): 791. ISSN 0287-6906.
• Tago, Akihiko (2000). "私の新星捜索" [Novae and myself]. The Tenkai (in Japanese). Kobe, Japan: Oriental Astronomic Association. 81 (896): 6–10. ISSN 0287-6906.

Awards

• 天文発見功労賞 (Award for distinguished service) ^[7]

References

1. Katō, Taichi (2001-08-20). "多胡昭彦さん、はくちょう座に明るい新星を発見 【2001年8月20日 VSOLJ ニュース (069) (2001.08.20)】" [Mr.Akihiko Taichi discovered a bright nova at Cygnus, per VSOLJ News, no.069]. VSOLJ News (in Japanese) (August 2001). Author's name in Japanese is加藤太一 (Katō, Taichi)). Tokyo, Japan: VSOLJ (Variable Star Observers League in Japan). Archived from the original on 2002-01-01. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
2. "TA finder charts". The Astronomer. Archived from the original on 3 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
3. "TAGO Event (Near-Field Microlensing) and Structure of the Galaxy" (PDF). 科学研究費補助金研究成果報告 (Research accomplishment report, Grants‐in‐aid for Scientific Research) (in Japanese). Kaken (20540239). 2011-06-28. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
4. Michael Richmond; Tom Droege (Nov 20, 2006). "Tech Note 104: Mark IV photometry of Var Cas 2006". Retrieved 2010-02-09.
5. Waagen, Elizabeth O (June 22, 2016). "Bright New Variable in Cassiopeia". AAVSO. Special Notice. 22. Unfiltered CCD observations by Tago include October 25.538 UT, 10.7; 27.409, 10.5; 30.411, 8.8; 31.469, 7.5. Tago used a 70-mm f/3.2 lens and a Canon EOS 20Da digital camera (limiting magnitude 12).
6. "【津山人】多胡昭彦さん（日本のアマチュア天文家）" [Mr.Akihiko Tago, a Japanese amateur astronomer]. 津山瓦版 (Tsuyama News Sheet) (in Japanese). Tsuyama, Okayama: AD Design Inc. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
7. Astronomical Society of Japan (2011-08-04). "天文月報: 2010年度日本天文学会各賞について" [ASJ Awards for 2010 decided (ASJ Newsletter)] (PDF) (in Japanese). 104 (4). Tokyo, Japan: ASJ. Retrieved 30 September 2016.