Fumiaki Nakata

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

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About

Fumiaki Nakata is an observational astronomer whose work centers on wide-field imaging instrumentation and the study of variable and transient phenomena in the universe. As a key contributor to the development of the Kiso Wide Field Camera (KWFC), Nakata helped equip the 105-cm Schmidt Telescope at Kiso Observatory with a powerful new eye—a four-square-degree imager that leverages the telescope’s large focal plane using an array of eight CCDs. This flagship instrument, detailed in his highly cited 2012 paper (39 citations), has enabled critical surveys of supernovae, asteroids, and other time-domain events. Nakata’s impact extends beyond instrument building; his observational programs have yielded insights into the structure and evolution of galaxies, stellar populations, and the dynamic night sky. By bridging cutting-edge detector technology with ambitious sky surveys, Nakata has provided the astronomical community with a versatile tool that continues to drive discoveries in transient astrophysics and galactic archaeology.