Star Watching Promoted by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Volume 40 number 1 (2012)

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Seiichi Sakuma

2-21-9, Kami-Aso, Asao-Ku, Kawasaki 215-0021, Japan; hgc02554@nifty.com

Abstract

In 1987 the author suggested to Japanese government authorities to promote star watching as a means of campaigning for the prevention of air pollution. The “Star Watching” program still continues today. Recently, it became a campaign not only for the prevention of air pollution, but also a campaign to educate about light pollution, energy-saving, and the reduction of greenhouse gas. This paper summarizes twenty years of activity in the “Star Watching” program.