Reiki Kushida facts for kids
| 4875 Ingalls | 19 February 1991 | MPC |
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Reiki Kushida (pronounced Ray-kee Koo-shee-dah) is a Japanese astronomer who loves to study the sky. She is known for finding amazing things in space, like exploding stars called supernovae. She was the first woman to visually discover a supernova, which was named 1991bg!
She also helped find an asteroid called 4875 Ingalls. This asteroid is part of the Flora family, which means it's a type of space rock found in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Reiki Kushida is married to another astronomer, Yoshio Kushida. He has also discovered many minor planets and comets. An asteroid, 5239 Reiki, was named after her in 1993 by astronomer Shun-ei Izumikawa to honor her contributions to astronomy.
Contents
Discovering Supernovae
What is a Supernova?
A supernova is a huge, powerful explosion of a star. It's one of the biggest explosions in space! When a star runs out of fuel, it can sometimes collapse and then explode, shining brighter than an entire galaxy for a short time. These explosions are very important because they spread heavy elements throughout the universe, which are needed to form new stars, planets, and even life.
Reiki Kushida's Supernova Discovery
Reiki Kushida made history when she visually discovered the supernova 1991bg on February 19, 1991. This was a big deal because it was the first time a female astronomer had seen and reported a supernova with her own eyes. Her discovery helped scientists learn more about these incredible cosmic events.
Exploring Asteroids
What are Asteroids?
Asteroids are like small, rocky worlds that orbit the Sun. They are much smaller than planets and are often called minor planets. Most asteroids in our solar system are found in the main asteroid belt, which is a busy area between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
The Asteroid 4875 Ingalls
Reiki Kushida helped discover the asteroid 4875 Ingalls. This asteroid is part of a group called the Flora family. These asteroids are known for being bright and are thought to be pieces of a larger asteroid that broke apart a long time ago. Finding new asteroids helps us understand more about the early history of our solar system.
An Asteroid Named After Her
It's a great honor for an astronomer to have a celestial body named after them! The asteroid 5239 Reiki was named in her honor in 1993. This shows how much her work and discoveries are valued by the astronomy community.
External links
- Visit to Nayoro Observatory
See also
In Spanish: Reiki Kushida para niños
