Career
Kobayashi has discovered more than 2000 asteroids using charge-coupled device 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. The asteroid 3500 Kobayashi is named after him.
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 Non-attached (Kobayashi-Berger-Milon). P/1997 B1 Kobayashi
On January 30 and January 31, 1997, Kobayashi observed an object, P/1997 B1 Kobayashi, which was initially thought to be a minor planet and was reported to the International Astronomical Union as such by Syuichi Nakano.
Over the next few days, the object was observed to be in a cometary orbit.
Warren B. Offutt later showed it to be a comet. Takao Kobayashi is currently a professor at Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering. He is also general designer of quantum yield design at Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation.
He was also appointed president by MICO.
