Tsutomu Seki
Tsutomu Seki is a Japanese amateur astronomer and discoverer of minor planets and comets, born in Kōchi, Japan.
Career
Tsutomu Seki is the Director of the Geisei Observatory in Kōchi, and in charge of the Comet Section of the Oriental Astronomical Association. Between 1961 and 1970, he had visually discovered six comets, including C/1965 S1, the well known great comet of 1965.
He has also discovered a large number of asteroids such as 13553 Masaakikoyama and 5209 Oloosson, a near-Earth Amor asteroid and a Jupiter trojan, respectively. Many of his discoveries are named after famous sites in Kōchi, such as Harimaya-bashi, Ryōma, Katsurahama beach, and Kagami-gawa.
Awards and honors
Asteroid 3426 Seki, discovered by Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg Observatory in 1932, was named in his honor. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 16 December 1986.
List of discovered minor planets
| 2396 Kochi | 9 February 1981 | |
| 2571 Geisei | 23 October 1981 | |
| 2582 Harimaya-Bashi | 26 September 1981 | |
| 2621 Goto | 9 February 1981 | |
| 2835 Ryoma | 20 November 1982 | |
| 2880 Nihondaira | 8 February 1983 | |
| 2961 Katsurahama | 7 December 1982 | |
| 3150 Tosa | 11 February 1983 | |
| 3182 Shimanto | 27 November 1984 | |
| 3262 Miune | 28 November 1983 | |
| 3431 Nakano | 24 August 1984 | |
| 3785 Kitami | 30 November 1986 | |
| 3822 Segovia | 21 February 1988 | |
| 3851 Alhambra | 30 October 1986 | |
| 3914 Kotogahama | 16 September 1987 | |
| 3935 Toatenmongakkai | 14 August 1987 | |
| 4039 Souseki | 17 September 1987 | |
| 4095 Ishizuchisan | 16 September 1987 | |
| 4097 Tsurugisan | 18 November 1987 | |
| 4101 Ruikou | 8 February 1988 | |
| 4223 Shikoku | 7 May 1988 | |
| 4256 Kagamigawa | 3 October 1986 | |
| 4290 Heisei | 30 October 1989 | |
| 4399 Ashizuri | 21 October 1984 | |
| 4411 Kochibunkyo | 3 January 1990 | |
| 5969 Ryuichiro | 17 March 1991 | |
| 6088 Hoshigakubo | 18 October 1988 | |
| 6237 Chikushi | 4 February 1989 | |
| 6244 Okamoto | 20 August 1990 | |
| 6302 Tengukogen | 2 February 1989 | |
| 6399 Harada | 3 April 1991 | |
| 6449 Kudara | 7 February 1991 | |
| 6458 Nouda | 2 October 1992 | |
| 6497 Yamasaki | 27 October 1992 | |
| 6514 Torahiko | 25 November 1987 | |
| 6606 Makino | 16 October 1990 | |
| 6660 Matsumoto | 16 January 1993 | |
| 6699 Igaueno | 19 December 1987 | |
| 6720 Gifu | 11 November 1990 | |
| 6925 Susumu | 24 October 1993 | |
| 6965 Niyodogawa | 11 November 1990 | |
| 6971 Omogokei | 8 February 1992 | |
| 7017 Uradowan | 1 February 1992 | |
| 7094 Godaisan | 4 September 1992 | |
| 7125 Eitarodate | 7 February 1991 | |
| 7235 Hitsuzan | 30 October 1986 | |
| 7274 Washioyama | 21 March 1982 | |
| 7287 Yokokurayama | 10 November 1990 | |
| 7289 Kamegamori | 5 May 1991 | |
| 7410 Kawazoe | 20 August 1990 | |
| 9751 Kadota | 20 August 1990 | |
| 9756 Ezaki | 12 February 1991 | |
| 9852 Gora | 24 December 1990 | |
| 9870 Maehata | 24 February 1992 | |
| 9964 Hideyonoguchi | 13 February 1992 | |
| 10078 Stanthorpe | 30 October 1989 | |
| 10091 Bandaisan | 11 November 1990 | |
| 10094 Eijikato | 20 February 1991 | |
| 10167 Yoshiwatiso | 31 January 1995 | |
| 10300 Tanakadate | 6 March 1989 | |
| 10321 Rampo | 26 October 1990 | |
| 10547 Yosakoi | 2 May 1992 | |
| 10791 Uson | 8 February 1992 | |
| 10803 Caléyo | 21 October 1992 | |
| 10829 Matsuobasho | 22 October 1993 | |
| 11288 Okunohosomichi | 10 December 1990 | |
| 11294 Kazu | 4 February 1992 | |
| 11296 Denzen | 24 May 1992 | |
| 11304 Cowra | 19 February 1993 | |
| 11321 Tosimatumoto | 21 February 1995 | |
| 11361 Orbinskij | 28 February 1998 | |
| 11516 Arthurpage | 6 March 1991 | |
| 11878 Hanamiyama | 18 April 1990 | |
| 11925 Usubae | 23 December 1992 | |
| 11927 Mount Kent | 16 January 1993 | |
| 17509 Ikumadan | 4 May 1992 | |
| 18365 Shimomoto | 17 November 1990 | |
| 18400 Muramatsushigeru | 25 November 1992 | |
| 18609 Shinobuyama | 30 January 1998 | |
| 18644 Arashiyama | 2 March 1998 | |
| 19156 Heco | 20 September 1990 | |
| 19161 Sakawa | 15 October 1990 | |
| 19197 Akasaki | 6 March 1992 | |
| 19210 Higayoshihiro | 25 December 1992 | |
| 20040 Tatsuyamatsuyama | 21 November 1992 | |
| 20102 Takasago | 31 January 1995 | |
| 21014 Daishi | 13 October 1988 | |
| 21016 Miyazawaseiroku | 2 November 1988 | |
| 21022 Ike | 2 February 1989 | |
| 21089 Mochizuki | 8 February 1992 | |
| 21126 Katsuyoshi | 19 January 1993 | |
| 21166 Nobuyukishouji | 6 December 1993 | |
| 21282 Shimizuyuka | 14 October 1996 | |
| 23468 Kannabe | 20 September 1990 | |
| 23478 Chikumagawa | 21 January 1991 | |
| 23504 Haneda | 7 March 1992 | |
| 23587 Abukumado | 2 October 1995 | |
| 24889 Tamurahosinomura | 11 December 1996 | |
| 26092 Norikonoriyuki | 16 September 1987 | |
| 26097 Kamishi | 6 November 1988 | |
| 42566 Ryutaro | 3 December 1996 | |
| 11 November 1990 | |
| 43794 Yabetakemoto | 19 December 1990 | |
| 7 September 1991 | |
| 43857 Tanijinzan | 15 November 1993 | |
| 46580 Ryouichiirie | 2 April 1992 | |
| 46592 Marinawatanabe | 16 December 1992 | |
| 46595 Kita-Kyushu | 29 December 1992 | |
| 46596 Tobata | 16 January 1993 | |
| 48482 Oruki | 5 February 1992 | |
| 48495 Ryugado | 16 January 1993 | |
| 52285 Kakurinji | 30 July 1990 | |
| 52455 Masamika | 6 January 1995 | |
| 58164 Reiwanohoshi | 20 November 1989 | |
| 58184 Masayukiyamamoto | 7 September 1991 | |
| 58185 Rokkosan | 7 September 1991 | |
| 65716 Ohkinohama | 25 January 1993 | |
| 65894 Echizenmisaki | 30 January 1998 | |
| 79130 Bandanomori | 26 October 1990 | |
| 79149 Kajigamori | 27 October 1992 | |
| 79152 Abukumagawa | 17 March 1993 | |
| 90713 Chajnantor | 11 November 1990 | |
| 120462 Amanohashidate | 26 October 1990 | |
| 237276 Nakama | 2 December 2008 | |
| 3 September 2010 | |