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August 2004

• August 27
The observatory was open to the public on August 27.
Typhoon 16 (Chaba) hasn't arrived yet. There were a lot of clouds around. We showed the 13-day-old moon and presented a slide show titled "the Story of Comet Ikeya-Seki Discovery". Prof. Yamaguchi, a former professor at Kochi University, was present and gave a lecture. Each of the seven staff members of the observatory demonstrated their individuality in their lectures.Incidentally, Mr. Machholz finally made it. I feel as if I were left out, while all the great names of the past have discovered comets. The reality is that my efforts have not easily resulted in success, though I have been trying hard. When a long period of time had passed without success, as is his case, people might have thought he had stopped searching. On the contrary, he must have been continuing his search persistently without a fanfare.
A long time ago, one comet searcher in the northern hemisphere declared that visual discoveries by amateurs had ended because of the LINEAR project. He himself stopped searching completely. What does he now think of a series of the recent discoveries? I would like to hear what he has to say. Even though you have achieved a lot in the past, if you have stopped searching completely, eventually you will be forgotten. The important thing is that you continue your efforts for a long time even without immediate results. We often hear the phrase " Be actively engaged all your life". This is a favorite adage of mine. You continue quietly to walk the path you have chosen and you love. It is natural to me. And the honor you have achieved will shine forever.

• August 13
I came to the Observatory late last night. I was on the watch for the Perseids for quite a while but didn't see any more meteors than usual.
Fifty-four years ago today, I began searching for comets with a 10cm-aperture comet seeker from the rooftop of my home. The first thing I saw was a large fireball flying in the southern sky. It was so bright that I saw my shadow on the ground. It was a Perseid brighter than 0 magnitude. Summers those days were cooler and I remember that I kept on searching for as long as 3.5 hours in pleasant evening breezes. It was two years after the discovery of Comet Honda in 1948. I was only 19 years old then and began searching to discover a comet following in Mr. Honda's footsteps. I didn't think about difficulties, hardships, or misfortunes awaiting, and steadfastly worked toward the goal. I was so uncomplicated and honest. I recall those days fondly.
After finishing observation with the 60cm reflector this morning, I searched the pre-dawn eastern sky for 30 minutes from a roll-off-roof observatory. Orion was already rising. The Pleiades was high in the sky and I thought the lost Comet Barnard 1, discovered 100 years ago, was supposed to be glowing near the Pleiades. It may be wandering in dark space looking pathetic with the coma dissipated and only the nucleus remaining. At 4 am I found a spindle-shaped white cloud (5'x10') in Gemini, which looked like a comet with a star superimposed on it. Surprisingly it was standing still for 5 minutes without changing its position or appearance. Then it gradually moved south while changing its shape. Large clouds are quite common and I have never seen such a small cloud. Before long, Sirius will rise. Autumn, the season of harvesting, and, of course, the season of discovery, will arrive.

• August 12 The mystery of a comet seeker 7
It was the late autumn of 1996. One article in the corner of the morning paper took away my breath. It was about Mr. L's death. What surprised me was not just the notice of his death but his address, which was at Koishiki in Kochi City. (As I had suspected, he had lived near the scene of the fire.) But let's not think about it. All I can do is simply to pray that his soul rests in peace. He was growing some crops in the mountain nearby and frequently went there to check their growth. He must have chanced upon the fire and tried desperately to put it out. "May his soul rest in peace."
My comet seeker has witnessed various incidents during that year. At the start of the new year it was going to meet the approaching comet Hale-Bopp. Comet Hale-Bopp, discovered by two American amateur astronomers, was welcomed by astronomy enthusiasts all over the world as one of the greatest comets in recent years. In the early spring of 1997 I packed my knapsack with a small comet seeker and a camera and climbed Mt. Takamiyama south of the city. This mountain is part of the ridges which include the neighboring Mt. Koishikiyama. In those old days suspicious fires occurred successively at Koishikiyama, but fires were also seen frequently at Mt. Takamiyama too.
While I was walking firmly and carefully on the stepping stones on a steep slope overlooking the magnificent night scene of Kochi City, I heard strange footsteps following me. I stopped to listen hard but no particular sound was heard. Still, while walking again, I heard strange clicking sounds as if someone were walking on the crutches and they followed me all along. (Come to think of it, Mr. L was using the crutches.) With that sort of wayward thoughts, I reached the small summit of the mountain. Comet Hale-Bopp appeared majestic over the mountains in the north with the expanse of lights of the city below. I stood there alone, mesmerized by its stunning beauty.
At that moment a deep voice boomed "Itfs quite pretty, isnft it?" Surprised by the voice, I turned around to find a man with an old soldierfs cap standing silently helped by a walking stick . (Oh, Mr. L!) I was stunned by shock and fear. I could only gaze at him.
But I was wrong. He was an old man who had no resemblance to Mr. L. He told me that he was living in a nearby nursing home and in the middle of strolling. He said that, as there had been a lot of fires recently around the nursing home at Mt. Hitsuzan, the home would be moved to Asakura. I told him about Comet Hale-Bopp, then he remembered that he saw a"fat"comet glowing stately overhead while watching sumo matches at a summer festival in his childhood. It was toward the end of Taisho period (1912 - 1926), but there is no way to know which comet it was. In old days I would hear about interesting stories about the stars from elderly people.
(to be continued)

Mt. Takamiyama viewed from my home
The mountain to the right of the center is Mt. Koishikiyama

Comet Hale-Bopp over Kochi City seen from Mt. Takamiyama
20-second exposure from 19:30 on March 1 1997
PENTAX 6X7 format camera 105mm f/2.4