What is the Murikabushi Telescope?

The Murikabushi Telescope is a 105-cm optical-infrared telescope installed at Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory. The main mirror has a diameter of 105 centimeters. NAOJ observes transient objects and Solar System objects such as planets from Ishigaki City where the atmosphere is stable and there is no influence from the jet stream. The nickname “Murikabushi” is the name in the Yaeyama Islands, including Ishigaki City, given to the star cluster known as the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters in the West. In Japan, the Pleiades are referred to as “Subaru.” In Ishigaki City, the Murikabushi Telescope is popularly known as NAOJ’s other “Subaru” Telescope along with the Subaru Telescope in Hawaiʻi.

One of the features of the Murikabushi Telescope is that we allocate time for public outreach in astronomy. We have public stargazing parties and we use it for mainstream astrophotography. An adjustable-height eyepiece for stargazing is attached to one of the telescope’s Nasmyth foci, so that children and people sitting in wheelchairs can also see the stars. It is a facility where you can experience the charm of Ishigaki City’s starry night sky. Here, you can enjoy stars that cannot be seen from Tokyo, such as the Southern Cross, and the Alpha and Beta Centauri.