Kenji A. AKABANE

Japan

1927-2015


Obituary:

Prof. Kenji Akabane passed away on April 22, 2015 at the age of 88 years. Akabane-san was a pioneer of Japanese radio astronomy. He joined the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory (TAO) of the University of Tokyo as a research associate in 1951 and started solar microwave observations 1952. He studied in the United States from 1957 to 1960 at Cornell University and the University of Michigan. After returning to Japan, he showed a great interest in the field of cosmic radio astronomy and in 1963 constructed the 24-m spherical reflector at the TAO. In 1969, he worked at the Australian CSIRO Radiophysics.

After coming back from Australia, Akabane-san led a project to construct the 6-m millimeter wave telescope in the campus of TAO, which was completed in 1970. Through this project he became motivated to construct the largest millimeter wave telescope in the world and was appointed as the founding director of the Nobeyama Radio Observatory (NRO) in 1982. He was a professor of NAOJ from 1970 until he retired from NAOJ in 1987. After working at the University of Toyama (1987 – 1992), he became the president of Matsusho Junior College from 1992 to 1999.

For his contributions to radio astronomy, Akabane-san was given the tile of Emeritus Professor at the University of Tokyo.

Contributed by Masato Ishiguro

Reference: https://rahist.nrao.edu/akabane_bio-memoir.shtml

Past affiliation(s) within the IAU

  • Past Member of Division B Facilities, Technologies and Data Science
  • Past Member of Division H Interstellar Matter and Local Universe
  • Past Member of Commission 34 Interstellar Matter (until 2015)
  • Past Member of Commission 40 Radio Astronomy (until 2015)
  • Past Member of Division VI Interstellar Matter (until 2012)
  • Past Member of Division X Radio Astronomy (until 2012)

Search individual members



 

Donate to the IAU

Donate to the IAU

General Assembly 2024

IAU General Assembly 2024

IAU Strategic Plan 2020–2030

Strategic Plan

IAU Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct

Symposia and Meetings

Meetings

Membership

How to Become a Member

Deceased Members

Deceased Members

Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference

CPS

IAU Catalyst

Latest Catalyst

IAU e-Newsletter
Volume 2024 n° 1

Latest e-Newsletter

Subscribe to the e-Newsletter

CAPj

IAU Office of Astronomy for Development

Office for Astronomy Development

IAU Office for Young Astronomers

Office for Young Astronomers

IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach

Office for Astronomy Outreach

IAU Office of Astronomy for Education

Office of Astronomy for Education

International School for Young Astronomers

International School for Young Astronomers

WG Small Bodies Nomenclature Bulletins

WG Small Bodies Nomenclature Bulletins

IAU WG Women in Astronomy Newsletters and Ensemble Magazine

WG Women in Astronomy Newsletters