Ko Arimatsu

Outreach

This page lists selected highlights. The complete list (in Japanese) is available on the Japanese Outreach page.

Commentary in newspapers, TV and news media

TV appearance, “Hoshi no matataki wo nerae! Enpei kansoku de semaru tentai no nazo” (Aim for the twinkle of stars: unravelling mysteries of celestial bodies with occultation observations; in Japanese), Science ZERO, NHK E-TV

(September 2026)

Appeared on a science program featuring stellar occultation observations and explained research results including the discovery of an atmosphere on the trans-Neptunian object 2002 XV93. My artist’s impression was also used in the program.

Press release and press conference, “Outer Solar System Object Has an Atmosphere But Shouldn’t”, NAOJ / Kyoto University / Kyoto Sangyo University

(May 2026)

As leader of the research team, presented the discovery of an atmosphere on the trans-Neptunian object (612533) 2002 XV93 (Arimatsu et al. Nature Astronomy, 2026) at a press conference at NAOJ. The result was released by NAOJ, Kyoto University and Kyoto Sangyo University and covered widely by media in Japan and abroad (NAOJ press release).

Commentary in a wire article, “Astronomers believe they've detected an atmosphere around a tiny, icy world beyond Pluto”, Associated Press (carried by PBS NewsHour, CBS News and others)

(May 2026)

Interviewed about the discovery of an atmosphere on the trans-Neptunian object (612533) 2002 XV93 (Arimatsu et al. Nature Astronomy, 2026). My artist’s impression was also used in the article.

Commentary in a news article, “Atmosphere spotted around small, distant solar system object”, CNN

(May 2026)

Interviewed about the discovery of an atmosphere on the trans-Neptunian object (612533) 2002 XV93 (Arimatsu et al. Nature Astronomy, 2026). My artist’s impression was also used in the article (a Japanese version was published on CNN.co.jp).

TV news appearance, on the elongated shape estimated for the next Hayabusa2 target asteroid (in Japanese), NHK News Tadaima Saga, NHK

(August 2024)

Interviewed about the shape of asteroid (98943) Torifune, the next flyby target of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, estimated from stellar occultation observations.

TV appearance, “Exploring an unexplored frontier with small telescopes! Observing small bodies / Ko Arimatsu” (in Japanese), Tankyu no Kaidan, TV Tokyo

(November 2023)

A documentary program on the history and results of the OASES and PONCOTS projects.

Commentary in a newspaper article, “A Fireball Whacked Into Jupiter, and Astronomers Got It on Video”, The New York Times

(September 2023)

Interviewed about the Jovian impact flash of August 2023.

TV news appearance, on the largest “fireball” of the century observed on Jupiter (in Japanese), Fuji TV and other FNN stations

(September 2022)

Interviewed at the press conference of the Astronomical Society of Japan 2022 autumn meeting, where the PONCOTS observation of a Jovian impact flash was announced.

TV appearance, Cosmic Front NEXT, NHK BS Premium

(April 2019)

Hosted on-site filming on Miyako Island, the OASES observation site, and introduced the project and the detection of a kilometre-sized Kuiper belt object by OASES.

Commentary in a magazine article, “Astronomers Traverse the Globe to Shadow ‘Lucky Stars’”, Scientific American

(February 2019)

Interviewed about the detection of a kilometre-sized Kuiper belt object by OASES.

Commentary in a magazine article, “Mysterious 'Missing Link' Object Found At Edge Of Solar System By Scientists Using Tiny Telescopes”, Forbes

(January 2019)

Interviewed about the detection of a kilometre-sized Kuiper belt object by OASES.

TV news appearance, “A big discovery on a low budget! A small body at the edge of the solar system, found by Japanese researchers” (in Japanese), Ohayo Nippon, NHK

(January 2019)

Interviewed about the detection of a kilometre-sized Kuiper belt object by OASES.

Magazine articles and commentary

Popular-science magazine article, “The unexplored solar system revealed by video astronomy: the case of shape determination of Torifune, the next Hayabusa2 flyby target” (in Japanese), Kagaku, February 2025 issue, Iwanami Shoten

(February 2025)

Wrote an article introducing the results of stellar occultation observations of asteroid (98943) Torifune.

Popular-science magazine article, “Impact flash on Jupiter!” (in Japanese), Monthly Hoshi Navi, November 2023 issue, AstroArts

(October 2023)

Wrote an article explaining the Jovian impact flash of August 2023.

Public lectures

Keynote lecture, on what the new director of Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory will start under the starry skies of Yaeyama, with the latest research results (in Japanese), Southern Island Star Festival 2026 Star Guide Symposium, Ishigaki City Civic Hall (Ishigaki, Okinawa)

(August 2026)

Gave a public keynote lecture on the plans for Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory and recent research results.

Public lecture, “OASES and PONCOTS: a new view of the solar system revealed by small telescopes” (in Japanese), Public Astronomy Lecture, National Museum of Nature and Science (Tokyo)

(June 2024)

Gave a public lecture on the OASES and PONCOTS projects and their results.

Commemorative public lecture, “Revealing the home of comets with shadows and flashes: the challenges of OASES and PONCOTS” (in Japanese), 51st Comet Conference, Life Park Kurashiki (Kurashiki, Okayama)

(June 2023)

Gave a commemorative public lecture on the OASES and PONCOTS projects and their results.

Science outreach programs for students (JSPS "Hirameki Tokimeki Science")

JSPS KAKENHI “Hirameki Tokimeki Science” program 2017, “Miyakojima Space School: exploring the universe from Miyako Island”

(August 2017)

Planned and organized the program as its principal organizer. Local high school students attended lectures on the latest astronomy and took part in hands-on observations using the OASES observation system.

Scientific supervision

Supervision of the Japanese translation of the picture book “Through the Night Sky” (text: Anita Ganeri, illustrations: Charlotte Pepper), Sekai Bunka Publishing

(June 2025)

Supervised the Japanese translation of this non-fiction science picture book, checking astronomical terminology, fact-checking the content and updating it with the latest information.

Astrophotographs and scientific illustrations provided

Scientific illustration, artist's impression of the trans-Neptunian object (612533) 2002 XV93, NAOJ press release and others

(May 2026)

My artist’s impression and explanatory figures of 2002 XV93 were used in the NAOJ press release and by many media outlets in Japan and abroad, including CNN, the Associated Press, AstroArts and NHK E-TV’s Science ZERO.

Astrophotograph, “Writers who loved astronomy” (in Japanese), Newton, May 2025 issue, Newton Press

(May 2025)

My photograph of the OASES observation system under the Milky Way was used to illustrate the novel “Ooruri Ryuseigun” by Shin Iyohara, which was modelled on the OASES project.

Scientific illustration, “Chase the mysteries of the solar system! Big discoveries expected from small telescopes” (in Japanese), Kodomo no Kagaku, May 2025 issue, Seibundo Shinkosha

(April 2025)

My illustration of a small outer solar system body was used in a feature article introducing the OASES project.

Astrophotograph and commentary, on the “planet parade” (in Japanese), Super J Channel, TV Asahi

(June 2022)

My photograph capturing all the planets of the solar system in a single frame from Ishigaki was broadcast with commentary.