Associate Staff Scientist
Fumi YOSHIDA
Education:
Doctor of Science, Kobe University, 2002
Job experience:
Aug. 1, 2002, – Mar. 31, 2003, Postdoctoral of Graduate Institute of Astronomy, National Central University (Taiwan)
Apr. 1, 2003, – Mar. 31, 2007, Postdoctoral of Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (Tokyo)
Apr. 1, 2007, – Mar. 31, 2017, Research Expert, Office of International Relations, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (Tokyo)
Apr. 1, 2017, – Jun. 30, 2020, Research Scientist, Planetary Exploration Research Center, Chiba Institute of Technology (Chiba)
Jul. 1, 2020, – Mar. 31, 2025, Assistant Professor, University of Occupational and Environmental Health (Fukuoka) and Visiting Staff Scientist, Planetary Exploration Research Center, Chiba Institute of Technology (Chiba)
Apr. 1, 2025 to the present, Associate Professor, University of Occupational and Environmental Health (Fukuoka) and Visiting Senior Staff Scientist, Planetary Exploration Research Center, Chiba Institute of Technology (Chiba)
Other experience:
Apr. 1, 1990 – Mar. 31, 1997, Technical officer of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Fukuoka)
Apr. 1, 2002 – Jul. 31, 2002, Assistance member of Public Relations Center, Astronomical Observatory of Japan (Tokyo)
Apr. 1, 2005, – Mar. 31, 2007, Part-time lecturer of Toyo University, Astronomy in Liberal arts subject (Tokyo)
Research specialties:
Observational research of the solar system small bodies.
I’m a planetary scientist as well as astronomer. I’m studying on our solar system through ground-based observation and planetary mission. Current my interest is to reveal a dynamical history of solar system based on physical properties and compositions of small solar system bodies.
I’m currently working on the following topics.
(1) Destiny+ mission
I’m a science team member. By conducting observation campaigns for related objects to the mission target body and gathering many kinds of information on the target, I contribute to the formulation of mission plans and equipment specifications.
(2) Small bodies survey of our solar system
I’m searching for the 9th planet, TNOs and other small bodies for understanding the formation/evolution of our solar system by the Subaru telescope. The region of outer solar system is an unexplored field waiting to be investigated by us.
(3) Observations for asteroid families
By using small telescopes, I’m measuring rotation periods, shapes and colors of members of young asteroid families. They bring us information on the impact event which formed them and timescale of space weathering on their surface.
(4) We have established an international occultation observing group called the International Occultation Timing Association - East Asia (IOTA/EA). There are organized occultation observation groups in the world, but there was no such organization in East Asia, so we formed the IOTA/EA with amateur astronomers and professional researchers when occultation observation became popular.
We estimate the size and shape of small solar system bodies through occultation observations, and also investigate whether they have satellites, rings, or atmospheres. We also cooperate with planetary exploration missions to observe occultation by the target objects.
(5) There are many difficulties in conducting joint research with researchers from different countries and different fields, but it is generally enjoyable.
Recently, I have also been working with anthropologists and archaeologists to understand how people have perceived our universe throughout human history.
* Chair of the Science Advisory Committee (TMT Japan) for the Thirty Meter Telescope, from August 2024
* Member of the Steering Committee of the Group of Optical and Infrared Astronomers (GOPIRA), from October 2023
* Co-chair of IOTA/EA, from August 27, 2023