Daily Life
One of the regular activities of the entire laboratory is the weekly laboratory seminar, where graduate students and above present the progress of their research and introduce new papers. In the first semester, fourth-year students only listen to their seniors, but in the second semester, they present at least once, depending on the progress of their research. In addition to lab seminars, students may also read textbooks to each other on their own initiative. Graduate students also attend and present at planetary seminars held jointly by four EPS laboratories (Ida Lab, Nakamoto Lab, Okuzumi Lab, and Sato Lab).
Daily research is conducted independently by each student at his/her own pace with regular meetings with supervisor. Although each student works independently on a different topic, most of the research is conducted in collaboration with researchers outside the university, and most of the meetings are held with external researchers. Students also travel to off-campus research institutions, including observatories, as needed, but most of their time is spent in front of a computer analyzing data, reading papers, and deepening their research ideas and thoughts.
Research Themes
Sato Laboratory is an observational astronomy laboratory. Therefore, we deal with observational data in our research. We sometimes acquire observational data ourselves using telescopes, and other times we use publicly available archives such as data from space telescopes. We may also create simulated data to perform simulations. What kind of data we handle depends on the research theme. Although remote observations have recently become more popular even for large telescopes, and archived data are more plentiful, students can, if they wish, gain hands-on experience operating a telescope and acquiring observation data.
Research topics are determined in consultation with the supervising professor based on each student's interests in "exoplanets" and "observation". The research interests include not only exoplanets themselves but also planet-host stars, instruments for observing exoplanets, and analytical methods.
Observations
Observing time on large telescopes is usually allocated on an open competition basis. If your proposal is approved, you will be allocated observation time. The more observation time you receive, the more opportunities you will have to observe. If your proposal is not accepted, we will review and strengthen your proposal and try again at the next opportunity.
Observations of visible light and infrared light are made at night, so you will have to live day and night in reverse when you go out to observe. With a telescope like the Okayama 188cm telescope, which is capable of automatic observation, if you specify a list of objects to be observed that day in the evening, the telescope will determine the weather conditions and make observations automatically at night, so you can obtain observation data while leading your normal life (going to bed at night and getting up in the morning).