About Yasuo Tanaka
Lived 1931 – 2018 (aged 86). Yasuo Tanaka was a Japanese astronomer and university teacher, known for X-ray astronomy.
was a Japanese astrophysicist and a member of the Japan Academy. He was professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo and Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) (part of JAXA) in Kanagawa, Japan and guest scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany.
He was a pioneer in X-ray astronomy, leading the development and operation of the Ginga, Tenma, and ASCA satellites.
Awards and honors Awards Nishina Memorial Prize (1985) (1989) Imperial Prize of the Japan Academy (1993) James Craig Watson Medal (1994) Foreign Associate, National Academy of Sciences (1998) The American Astronomical Society named him an Honorary Member (2012)
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Yasuo Tanaka?
Japanese astrophysicist
When was Yasuo Tanaka born?
Yasuo Tanaka was born on 18 March 1931 in Osaka Prefecture.
When did Yasuo Tanaka die?
Yasuo Tanaka died on 18 January 2018.
What was Yasuo Tanaka's occupation?
Yasuo Tanaka was an astronomer and university teacher.
What was Yasuo Tanaka known for?
Yasuo Tanaka was known for X-ray astronomy.
What nationality was Yasuo Tanaka?
Yasuo Tanaka was Japanese.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Yasuo Tanaka (astronomer)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Yasuo Tanaka. https://biography.guide/yasuo-tanaka/
MLA: "Yasuo Tanaka." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/yasuo-tanaka/.
Chicago: "Yasuo Tanaka." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/yasuo-tanaka/.
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