{{Short description|Japanese astrophotographer (1941–2022)}}{{Expand Japanese|topic=bio}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox scientist |name = Akira Fujii |image = |image_size = |alt = |caption = |birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|1|12|df=y}} |birth_place = Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan |death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|12|28|1941|1|12|df=y}} |death_place = |residence = |religion = |nationality = |ethnicity = |fields = |workplaces = |alma_mater = |doctoral_advisor = |academic_advisors = |doctoral_students = |notable_students = |known_for = |influences = |influenced = |awards = |signature = |signature_alt = |footnotes = }}
{{nihongo|'''Akira Fujii'''|藤井 旭|Fujii Akira|12 January 1941 – 28 December 2022}} was a Japanese astrophotographer and astronomer. PBS has described him as "the world's foremost wide-angle astrophotographer".<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/about-the-film/ About "Seeing in the Dark"], by Timothy Ferris; published March 2008; retrieved 22 June 2011</ref>
Fujii graduated from Tama Art University in 1961, and began working at observatories, producing a substantial bibliography of general-audience astronomy books. In 1974, Fujii began Japan's first star party, the "Invitation to Starlit Skies", which he hosted on Mount Azuma until 1984.<ref>[http://www.tainai.jp/tainai/histe.html The History of Tainai Star Party], by Shigemi Numazawa, first published in ''Sky and Telescope'', July 2002; archived at tainai.jp; retrieved 22 June 2011</ref>
Fujii's work is marketed by David Malin;<ref>[http://www.davidmalin.com/index.html Astronomical Photographs from David Malin Images], by David Malin; published 30 August 2009; retrieved 22 June 2011</ref> he collaborated with Serge Brunier in the production of 2001's ''Great Atlas of the Stars''.<ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-55209-610-9 Nonfiction Notes] at ''Publishers Weekly'', Volume 248 Issue 40 10 January 2001; retrieved 22 June 2011</ref>
The main-belt asteroid 3872 Akirafujii is named in his honor.<ref name="springer" />
Fujii died on 28 December 2022, at the age of 81.<ref>{{cite news |title=天体写真家の藤井旭さん死去 81歳 私設天文台の台長に愛犬チロ 著書「星になったチロ」など― スポニチ |trans-title=Astrophotographer Akira Fujii passes away at the age of 81. Director of private observatory and pet dog Chiro |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2022/12/30/kiji/20221230s00041000440000c.html |access-date=30 December 2022 |publisher=Sponichi Annex |date=30 December 2022}}</ref>
== References == <references>
<ref name="springer">{{cite book |title = Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (3872) Akirafujii |last = Schmadel | first = Lutz D. |publisher = Springer Berlin Heidelberg |pages = 328–329 |date = 2007 |isbn = 978-3-540-00238-3 |doi = 10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_3861 |chapter = (3872) Akirafujii }}</ref>
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== External links == * [http://www.deep-sky.co.uk/imaging/constell/constell.htm David Ratledge analyzes the "Akira Fujii effect"], at Deep-Sky.co.uk
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fujii, Akira}} Category:1941 births Category:2022 deaths Category:20th-century Japanese astronomers Category:21st-century Japanese astronomers Category:Scientists from Yamaguchi Prefecture Category:Astrophotographers Category:20th-century Japanese photographers Category:21st-century Japanese photographers
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