9844 Otani is a main-belt

Asteroid belt

The asteroid belt is the region of the Solar System located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. It is occupied by numerous irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids or minor planets...

 asteroid

Asteroid

Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...

 discovered on November 23, 1989 by Yoshio Kushida

Yoshio Kushida

is a Japanese astronomer. He is a prolific discoverer of asteroids.He discovered comet 144P/Kushida and was co-discoverer of comet 147P/Kushida-Muramatsu.-External links:* http://www.nayoro-star.jp/photo/tenmondai-houmon/kushida.html...

 and Osamu Muramatsu

Osamu Muramatsu

is a Japanese astronomer, and is a prolific discoverer of asteroids. He also co-discovered periodic comet 147P/Kushida-Muramatsu.-External links:*...

 at the Yatsugatake South Base Observatory

Yatsugatake South Base Observatory

is an observatory in Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan. Its observatory code is 896.It is frequently used due to its closeness to the Greater Tokyo Area, resulting in many asteroid discoveries. Yoshio Kushida has worked on observational research on pre-earthquake natural phenomena.-External links:*...

. It was named in honor of Toyokazu Otani (1928- ), first lecturer at the Gotoh Planetarium and Astronomical Museum in Tokyo, where he worked for 32 years until 1988. His deep knowledge of acoustics and classical music was instrumental in establishing the well-known BMG sound system, appreciated by planetarium audiences. Otani is also known as an eminent observer of the planets.

External links

• JPL Small-Body Database Browser on 9844 Otani