Wataru Arimatsu, a program-specific assistant professor at the Hakubi Center of Kyoto University, observed the entirety of the impact of a small celestial body on Jupiter on October 15, 2021. It was an observation that had a huge impact on a global scale.
The equipment used by Assistant Professor Arimatsu became a hot topic among amateur astronomers. It was because it was only equipment that “we use”. Assistant Professor Arimatsu himself says that he built the observation system on a low budget.
The systems for observing and photographing celestial bodies have evolved remarkably in the last 20 years. Equipment with functions that were previously only available at observatories has become affordable enough for amateurs to purchase.
Even with the equipment used by amateurs, it is perfect. And most of these devices are developed by Chinese companies. Once upon a time, optical equipment, including astronomical telescopes, should have been the specialty of Japanese manufacturers. Even now, telescopes such as Takahashi and Vixen have fans all over the world, but these manufacturers do not release the latest systems. As soon as the wave of digitization hit the world of astronomical observation, the leading players were American and Chinese companies. It can be said that Japanese manufacturers are leading only in lens glass materials and image sensors. The astronomy market is a niche. However, the fact that even that is being left behind by late-starting Chinese companies may indicate the seriousness of Japan’s delay in responding to digital needs.