light reflection and limb darkening were also taken into consideration. These results
were applied to Stebbins’s light curve (Fig. 4.17). Takeda stated that of his two
models of uniform disk and limb-darkened disk, the latter yields a better fit for
observed light curves.
Takeda’s work was noticed by Russell. In his paper on the ellipticity of stars in
eclipsing binaries, Russell wrote, “This problem has been discussed by Takeda in
considerable detail. His work deserves careful consideration by anyone who pursues
the question” (Russell 1939).
4.4 Miyamoto Shotaro, Astrophysics, and Planetary
Science
Miyamoto Shotaro (宮本正太郎, 1912–1992) promoted astrophysics and planetary
science in Kyoto (Hasegawa 1993; Miyamoto, S. 1954; Miyamoto, K. 1991).
4.4.1 Life and Works
Shotaro was born the eldest son of Miyamoto Ichisuke (宮本市助), a grain-import
merchant, in Onomichi City (尾道市), Hiroshima Prefecture. He was an enthusiastic
amateur astronomer in his youth, with special interest in the visual observations of
Mars with a small telescope. During his amateur activity, he met with Yamamoto
Issei of Kyoto Imperial University, who encouraged Shotaro to promote more
interest in astronomy. Following Yamamoto’s suggestion, Miyamoto entered
Kyoto Imperial University in 1933 and studied astrophysics under Araki Toshima.
After graduation in 1936, he served in the army but soon after was demobilized as a
result of illness. Thereafter he spent his life as a lecturer (1940), associate professor
(1943), and professor of astrophysics (1948) in Kyoto University until his retirement
in 1976. Thereafter, he served as Honorary Director of the Kyoto School of Computer Science. When he died at age 79 in 1992, the computer school published and
devoted to him a memorial book, Complete Works of Miyamoto Shotaro (Hasegawa
and Sakka 1993).
The war years were difficult for him, and he lived isolated from the international
community of astrophysicists. After the war, Araki and his main staff resigned from
Kyoto University, Miyamoto found himself having to promote research and education in astrophysics alone.
The main topics in astrophysics and planetary science during his lifetime were as
follows, with some overlap in time frame (Fig. 4.18):
1. Spectral theory of gaseous nebulae (1938–1950)
2. Stellar physics of neutron stars and white dwarfs (1942–1949)
3. Radiation field and stability of stellar envelopes (1942–1953)
4.4 Miyamoto Shotaro, Astrophysics, and Planetary Science
99
were applied to Stebbins’s light curve (Fig. 4.17). Takeda stated that of his two
models of uniform disk and limb-darkened disk, the latter yields a better fit for
observed light curves.
Takeda’s work was noticed by Russell. In his paper on the ellipticity of stars in
eclipsing binaries, Russell wrote, “This problem has been discussed by Takeda in
considerable detail. His work deserves careful consideration by anyone who pursues
the question” (Russell 1939).
4.4 Miyamoto Shotaro, Astrophysics, and Planetary
Science
Miyamoto Shotaro (宮本正太郎, 1912–1992) promoted astrophysics and planetary
science in Kyoto (Hasegawa 1993; Miyamoto, S. 1954; Miyamoto, K. 1991).
4.4.1 Life and Works
Shotaro was born the eldest son of Miyamoto Ichisuke (宮本市助), a grain-import
merchant, in Onomichi City (尾道市), Hiroshima Prefecture. He was an enthusiastic
amateur astronomer in his youth, with special interest in the visual observations of
Mars with a small telescope. During his amateur activity, he met with Yamamoto
Issei of Kyoto Imperial University, who encouraged Shotaro to promote more
interest in astronomy. Following Yamamoto’s suggestion, Miyamoto entered
Kyoto Imperial University in 1933 and studied astrophysics under Araki Toshima.
After graduation in 1936, he served in the army but soon after was demobilized as a
result of illness. Thereafter he spent his life as a lecturer (1940), associate professor
(1943), and professor of astrophysics (1948) in Kyoto University until his retirement
in 1976. Thereafter, he served as Honorary Director of the Kyoto School of Computer Science. When he died at age 79 in 1992, the computer school published and
devoted to him a memorial book, Complete Works of Miyamoto Shotaro (Hasegawa
and Sakka 1993).
The war years were difficult for him, and he lived isolated from the international
community of astrophysicists. After the war, Araki and his main staff resigned from
Kyoto University, Miyamoto found himself having to promote research and education in astrophysics alone.
The main topics in astrophysics and planetary science during his lifetime were as
follows, with some overlap in time frame (Fig. 4.18):
1. Spectral theory of gaseous nebulae (1938–1950)
2. Stellar physics of neutron stars and white dwarfs (1942–1949)
3. Radiation field and stability of stellar envelopes (1942–1953)
4.4 Miyamoto Shotaro, Astrophysics, and Planetary Science
99