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ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORIES
HUNTER LATOURETTE
PATHFINDER 301
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WHY HAWAI’I?
The summits of Hawaii are ideal because of what isn’t there:
- Light pollution
- Dust
- Clouds (adiabatic lapse rates)
Almost equatorial position
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OBSERVATORIESThere are multiple observatories located across the state, primarily:
- Mauna Kea Observatories
- Haleakala Observatory
- KEASA Observatory
- Lanihulu Observatory
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KEASA
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KEASA AND LANIHULU OBSERVATORIESKEASA:
“The observatory is a joint venture between the Kauai Educational Association for Science and Astronomy and Kauai Community College (KCC).”
Lanihulu
Optical and Radio Observatory
Windward Community College
Radio Jove Project
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Haleakala
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HALEAKALAFounded in 1961
Owned by The Institute for Astronomy (University of Hawai’i):
- Air Force Research Laboratory
- Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network
Facilities:
Air Force Maui Optical Station
Faulkes Telescope
LURE Observatory
Maui Space Surveillance System
Mees Solar Observatory
Solar-C Scatter-Free Observatory
Pan-STARRS
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FAULKES TELESCOPE NORTH
Sister telescope of Faulkes Telescope South
- Owned and operated by Las Cumbres
Provides remote access and observing time to UK schools for educational projects
2m f/10 Ritchey-Chretien telescope
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AIR FORCE MAUI OPTICAL STATION
Air Force Research Laboratory
- research and development mission on the
Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS)
Multiple telescopes and systems utilized
- provides state of the art satellite track tracking
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Mauna Kea
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MAUNA KEA OBSERVATORIES500 acre area, the “Astronomy Precinct”
- Established in 1967- 4205 m Elevation
Owned by the University of Hawai’I and leased to multi-national groups
- 2 billion in investments
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FACILITIES
Facilities (wide variety of telescopes of organizations):
- Caltech Submillimeter Observatory
- Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope
- Gemini Observatory
- James Clerk Maxwell Submillimeter Telescope
- Keck Observatory
- NASA IR Telescope
- Smithsonian and Taiiwan Submillimeter Array
- Subaru Telescope
- University of Hawaii 2.2 Meter Telescope
- United Kingdom IR Telescope
- Very Long Baseline Array
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CANADA-FRANCE-HAWAII TELESCOPE
Current uses:
- Surveying Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
- Surveying Triangulum Galaxy (M33)
In operation since 1979
- Observing time offered to Canadian, French, and Hawaiian scientists
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SUBARU AND GEMINI
Subaru
- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
- Primary Mirror
Gemini
- Twin telescopes
- Extensive coverage
- Largest and most advanced optical/IR telescopes
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THIRTY METER TELESCOPE, FUTURE
Thirty Meter Telescope:
- Controversial surrounding proposed construction
- Damage to the ecosystem
- Mauna Kea sacred grounds
New Pan – STARRS location
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SACRED SITE
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ONIZUKA CENTER AND IMOLA ASTRONOMY CENTER
Onizuka Center:
Complex that supports the Mauna Kea Observatory
Mid-Level Visitors Building
Imola Astronomy Center:
Located in Hilo
Focus on Hawaiian culture, history, and astronomy and their overlaps
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BIBLIOGRAPHY• http://www.astropa.unipa.it/Telescopi_Ottici/Maunakea/west-17.jpg
• http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/attractions/observatories.htm
• http://lanihuli.wcc.hawaii.edu/Lanihuli1.htm
• https://sites.coloradocollege.edu/indigenoustraditions/sacred-lands/sacred-lands-mauna-kea/
• http://www.gemini.edu/gallery/main.php
• http://sacredsites.com/americas/united_states/hawaiian_sacred_mountains.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauna_Kea
• http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/haleakalanew/observatories.shtml
• http://lcogt.net/site/haleakala