Kiyotsugu Hirayama
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese astronomer
, best known for his discovery that many asteroid
orbits were more similar to one another than chance would allow, leading to the concept of asteroid families, now called "Hirayama families
" in his honour.
The crater Hirayama
on the Moon
is jointly named after him and Shin Hirayama
. The asteroid 1999 Hirayama
is named in his honour.
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, best known for his discovery that many asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
orbits were more similar to one another than chance would allow, leading to the concept of asteroid families, now called "Hirayama families
Hirayama families
A Hirayama family of asteroids is a group of minor planets that share similar orbital elements, such as semimajor axis, eccentricity, and orbital inclination...
" in his honour.
The crater Hirayama
Hirayama (crater)
Hirayama is a large lunar crater that is located on the far side of the Moon, just beyond the eastern limb. This region of the surface is sometimes brought into view from Earth during periods of favourable libration. However it is best viewed from orbit. This crater is located along the...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is jointly named after him and Shin Hirayama
Shin Hirayama
was the first Japanese astronomer to discover an asteroid. In 1900 he discovered 498 Tokio and 727 Nipponia.The crater Hirayama on the Moon is jointly named after him and Kiyotsugu Hirayama.-References:* at www12.plala.or.jp...
. The asteroid 1999 Hirayama
1999 Hirayama
1999 Hirayama is an asteroid. It is named after Kiyotsugu Hirayama, the Japanese astronomer best known for his discovery that many asteroid orbits were more similar to one another than chance would allow, leading to the concept of asteroid families, now called Hirayama families....
is named in his honour.