Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-26
AMATEURS COMET
FIND IS SCOOP
Masani Nagata, Japanese
Ranch Foreman, Modest
in Beating Scientists.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BRAWLEY, Calf, July rs (NA.N.A.).
-Masani Nagata, Japanese farmer
astronomer, who scooped the scientific
world last week when he discovered q
new and hitherto unreported comet
with a 4-foot telescope planted on a
tripod out in his vegetable garden, sat
adjoining his little ranch house today
and disclaimed any credit for the fame
that suddenly has been thrust upon him.
He first saw the new comet at 8:15
o'clock on the evening Of July IS. He
recognized the bright speck nesting
close to the Planet Neptune as an un-
charted comet It attracted his atten-
ton because it was travelling in the
wrong direction. Other comets passing
across the sky during June and July
move toward the south. The new
this fact which caused him to send a
telegram to the Mount Wilson Observa-
tory, at Pasadena. calling attention to
the unusual phenomenon.
Astronomy Is Hobby.
Astronomy Is merely a hobby with
Nagata. His occupation is that Of
ranch foreman. He superintendS the
raising OF lettuce and cantaloupes for
sears BIOS. OH UIlC SCO16C DuJOClo
Ranch, IL miles northeast Of Brawley.
He speaks excellent English, and also
reads it. He studies astronomy in two
languages His library, which consists
of a rough table piled high with books
and magazines, contains the works OF
both Japanese and American scientists.
His interest in the stars dates back
to his boyhood days in Japan, when his
father, without the aid OF any instru-
mentS, pointed out the visible constel-
lations in the heavens overhead. AS
a lad he was interested, but gave no
serious thought to the study of astron-
cmy until 10 years ago. after he had
moved to Imperial Valley for his
health.
His first investment in astronomical
eouipment was one of those $500 tele-
scopes featured in the mail order cata-
logues a few years ago. 1t was the
enlarged vision of the moon and other
solar phenomena disclosed through
this cheap telescope which aroused MS
interest to the point that he began to
save his money for the purchase OF
more elaborate equipment.
Telescope is Three-Inch.
The telescope with which he diScov-
cred the new comet mas tnree-Incn
lens. Recently he purchased the glass
for a nine-inch lens. He plans to grind
it down himself and is looking forward
to the time when he can penetrate
deeper into the mysteries OF the uni
verse.
The greater part of his knowledge OF
astronomy and other scientific subjects
was gained during long hours of study,
with nothing more than coal-oll Ian
tern for lighting purposes. More re-
Gently he has installed a small cleo
trical plant at his ranch headquarters.
He has a homemade rain gauge and
keeps temperature readings charted
daily-merely as pastime.
Nagata is AZ years of age and has
been in the United States since 1907.
He has had little schooling and none
in the United States But he is Of
studious nature and has acquired
broad general knowledge of the sciences.
His main limitation has been his lack
of mathematics and he points to this
fact as one of the reasons why he Is
entitled to only very modest place
in the scientific world. Modesty is one
of his outstanding characteristics.
He was puzzled to know why inter-
viewers and news photographers be-
sieged his little ranch house today. He
had not even read the newspapers car
rying the announcement OF his discov-
cry. But he received them with all
the courtesy of a well bred japanese
and discussed his pet subject in terms
of the layman rather than the scientist.
tCopyright. 1881. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. 1nc.)