Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1994 > PART II Chapter 6 Section 6 1

Astronomy, a natural science with a long tradition, has made major contributions to our understanding of the phenomena of the universe and to the systemization of the basic laws of physics and other scientific disciplines. Accordingly, the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is implementing research in this field, primarily through the National Astronomical Observatory (NAO).

The Nobeyama Cosmic Radio Observatory of the NAO has used a 45-meter cosmic radio emission telescope to make a number of important contributions, including the discovery of previously unknown interstellar molecules. Since 1992 the Nobeyama Solar Radio Observatory of the NAO has been endeavoring to clarify the mechanism of solar flares by using a radio heliograph to observe radio waves emitted from the surface of the sun. In fiscal 1991 the NAO began construction of the 8-meter Japan National Large Telescope atop Mauna Kea, in Hawaii. The telescope will be used to explore areas of space 15 billion light-years from the earth in an effort to elucidate the state of the universe when the Milky Way was formed.

The Institute for Cosmic Ray Research of the University of Tokyo is studying neutrinos and the decay of protons, using a water Cherenkov cosmic particle detector 1,000 meters underground in the Kamioka Mine, Gifu Prefecture. In February 1987 the institute achieved a major breakthrough when it became the first research center in the world to detect neutrinos emitted by a supernova. To expand its research on cosmic rays and particles, since fiscal 1991 the institute has been constructing a large-scale water Cherenkov cosmic particle detector consisting of a 50,000-ton water tank and 11,200 photomultiplier tubes alongside its existing facility.