Gekko Observatory, Astronomical observatory in Kannami, Japan
Gekko Observatory is a four-story facility with two observation domes housing a 20cm solar telescope and a 50cm astronomical telescope at 312 meters elevation. The building combines telescope equipment with museum spaces and educational displays for visitors of all ages.
The facility opened on September 21, 1957, under founder Issei Yamamoto and has since contributed to numerous astronomical discoveries. It was established during a period when systematic sky observation became an important part of Japanese scientific research.
The facility includes a geological museum with fossils and dinosaur skeletons, along with a planetarium showing how celestial events unfold across the night sky. These collections help visitors connect the history of Earth with the wider cosmos.
The site is easily accessible on foot from the town center and offers wheelchair-friendly access to most exhibits. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the four-story building has both stairs and an elevator.
Between 1987 and 2000, researchers here discovered 172 minor planets, ranking the facility 40th worldwide for asteroid discoveries. This achievement highlights the observatory's scientific impact during those particularly productive years.
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