Yusuke Hagihara
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese astronomer
noted for his contributions to celestial mechanics
.
Hagihara graduated from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in astronomy in 1921 and became an assistant professor of astronomy there two years later. In 1923 the Japanese government sent him abroad as a traveling scholar. Hagihara went to Cambridge University in England to study under the mathematician H.F. Baker and also visited the University of Göttingen and the Sorbonne. He returned to Japan in 1925 but left for the United States three years later to study dynamical systems theory at Harvard University under G. D. Birkhoff on a Rockefeller Foundation
Fellowship.
Hagihara finished his studies at Harvard in 1929 and returned again to the University of Tokyo where, in 1930, he completed a D.Sc. dissertation on the stability of satellite systems. He was promoted to full professor at the University of Tokyo five years later. From 1945 to 1957 he was the director of the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory and subsequently was a professor at Tohoku University
(1957–1960) and president of Utsunomiya University
(1961–1967). In 1961 he was elected vice-president of the International Astronomical Union
and president of the IAU's commission on celestial mechanics.
He retired from all of his official duties, except for the Japan Academy, in 1967 and devoted himself to writing his comprehensive five volume work, Celestial Mechanics, which was based on his lecture notes.
Hagihara was regarded as a quiet and cultured gentleman, an excellent teacher and a capable administrator. The asteroid 1971 Hagihara
is named after him.
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...
noted for his contributions to celestial mechanics
Celestial mechanics
Celestial mechanics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the motions of celestial objects. The field applies principles of physics, historically classical mechanics, to astronomical objects such as stars and planets to produce ephemeris data. Orbital mechanics is a subfield which focuses on...
.
Hagihara graduated from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in astronomy in 1921 and became an assistant professor of astronomy there two years later. In 1923 the Japanese government sent him abroad as a traveling scholar. Hagihara went to Cambridge University in England to study under the mathematician H.F. Baker and also visited the University of Göttingen and the Sorbonne. He returned to Japan in 1925 but left for the United States three years later to study dynamical systems theory at Harvard University under G. D. Birkhoff on a Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
Fellowship.
Hagihara finished his studies at Harvard in 1929 and returned again to the University of Tokyo where, in 1930, he completed a D.Sc. dissertation on the stability of satellite systems. He was promoted to full professor at the University of Tokyo five years later. From 1945 to 1957 he was the director of the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory and subsequently was a professor at Tohoku University
Tohoku University
, abbreviated to , located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region, Japan, is a Japanese national university. It is the third oldest Imperial University in Japan and is a member of the National Seven Universities...
(1957–1960) and president of Utsunomiya University
Utsunomiya University
is a national university in Japan. The main campus is located in Miné-machi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture.- History :Utsunomiya University was established in 1949 by integrating three national colleges: , and ....
(1961–1967). In 1961 he was elected vice-president of the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
and president of the IAU's commission on celestial mechanics.
He retired from all of his official duties, except for the Japan Academy, in 1967 and devoted himself to writing his comprehensive five volume work, Celestial Mechanics, which was based on his lecture notes.
Hagihara was regarded as a quiet and cultured gentleman, an excellent teacher and a capable administrator. The asteroid 1971 Hagihara
1971 Hagihara
1971 Hagihara is the name of an asteroid which was discovered at Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana by the Indiana Asteroid Program....
is named after him.
Honors
- Fellow of the Royal Astronomical SocietyRoyal Astronomical SocietyThe Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
- Chairman of the National Committee of Astronomy (Japan)
- Member Japan Academy
- Member Science Council of Japan
- Order of Cultural Merit (Japan)
- Recipient of the James Craig Watson MedalJames Craig Watson Medalthumb|right|400px|James Craig Watson MedalThe James Craig Watson Medal was established by the bequest of James Craig Watson, and is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for contributions to astronomy.The recipients have been:-External links:*...
from the U.S. National Academy of Science (1960)