Guarding Japan's satellites from space debris

Guarding Japan's satellites from space debris

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Nov. 17, 2012 shows the Bisei spaceguard center in Ihara, Okayama Prefecture, where the Japan Spaceguard Association observes space debris and asteroids with the aid of optical telescopes and other devices. The image is not clear due to ultrasensitive photographing. (Photo by Makoto Hori)

Guarding Japan's satellites from space debris

Guarding Japan's satellites from space debris

TOKYO, Japan - Noritsugu Takahashi (C), board chairman of the Japan Spaceguard Association, explains to children about the organization's work and telescope mechanisms at the Bisei spaceguard center in Ihara, Okayama Prefecture, on Nov. 17, 2012. (Photo by Makoto Hori)

Setup of big telescope begins in Okayama

Setup of big telescope begins in Okayama

OKAYAMA, Japan - Work begins at Bisei Space Guard Center in Okayama Prefecture on Dec. 6 to set up a 1-meter-wide telescope for observing and tracking space debris and near earth objects. Claimed to be one of the world's largest, the telescope will help discover more space debris and NEOs.

Setup of big telescope begins in Okayama

Setup of big telescope begins in Okayama

OKAYAMA, Japan - Work begins at Bisei Space Guard Center in Okayama Prefecture on Dec. 6 to set up a 1-meter-wide telescope for observing and tracking space debris and near earth objects. Claimed to be one of the world's largest, the telescope will help discover more space debris and NEOs.

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Kazuya Ayani, head of the Bisei Astronomical Observatory in Japan's Okayama Prefecture, points at the moving light of the country's Hayabusa2 space probe captured by the observatory on Dec. 3, 2015. The probe made its closest approach to the Earth the same day to perform a swingby to set it on course for its target asteroid 300 million kilometers away, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Fukuba Bisei

Fukuba Bisei

Fukuba Bisei==Date:Early Meiji, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images)

Astronomical observatory in western Japan

Astronomical observatory in western Japan

Stars of the Milky Way shine over the Bisei Astronomical Observatory in Ibara, Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 18, 2017. Bisei is known as a place for observing beautiful stars and enacted a no-lighting ordinance to preserve dark skies in 1989. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Astronomical observatory in western Japan

Astronomical observatory in western Japan

Stars of the Milky Way shine over the Bisei Astronomical Observatory in Ibara, Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 18, 2017. Bisei is known as a place for observing beautiful stars and enacted a no-lighting ordinance to preserve dark skies in 1989. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo