Takao Kobayashi

Takao Kobayashi (小林隆男, Kobayashi Takao^?, born 1961) is a Japanese amateur astronomer and an outstanding discoverer of minor planets who currently works at the Ōizumi Observatory. The asteroid 3500 Kobayashi is named after him.

Kobayashi has discovered more than 2000 asteroids using CCD technology, including the Amor asteroids 7358 Oze, (23714) 1998 EC3, (48603) 1995 BC2 and about nine Trojan asteroids. He also discovered the periodic comet P/1997 B1 (Kobayashi), which he originally reported as an asteroid.

His asteroid discoveries of January 16, 1994 and December 31, 1994 have been named 8883 Miyazakihayao and 10160 Totoro by Kobayashi. The names reference anime filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, and one of his creations, My Neighbor Totoro. The names have been approved by the International Astronomical Union. He is not to be confused with another Japanese astronomer, Toru Kobayashi, who co-discovered comet C/1975 N1 (Kobayashi-Berger-Milon).