11.30.2012
The Thirty Meter Telescope, in limbo for more than a year, moved a huge step closer to approval with the release Friday of a long-awaited hearing officer's report in support of the University of Hawaii's request to build the giant observatory. more »
10.29.2012
A team of astronomers have proved it's possible to see volcanic eruptions on Io — a moon of Jupiter — from our perch on Earth hundreds of millions of miles away. The team used three large telescopes (8 to 10 meters in diameter) to watch over Io during the past 8 years: W.M. Keck II and Gemini North at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and Chile's Very Large Telescope No. 4.
Franck Marchis, lead investigator of the study, estimates there are 7 telescopes in the world that can do the same kind of searches today, but there are more telescopes under construction that will make the technology even better. When TMT is ready in 2021, the images it will produce will be just 22 miles in resolution, Marchis said. more »
02.22.2012
How did the first stars and galaxies bring the young universe out of its dark ages and into the light? The Kavli Foundation spoke with three prominent researchers about the hunt for the first stars and galaxies, and how direct and indirect observations are helping them get closer. The participants included Caltech astronomy professor and TMT Board member Richard Ellis, joined by astronomers George Becker and Avi Loeb.. more »
12.21.2011
President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint TMT Board Chair Henry Yang to the Administration post: Member, President's Committee on the National Medal of Science. Dr. Yang joins several other appointees to key Administration posts.
President Obama said, "These fine public servants bring both a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their new roles. Our nation will be well-served by these individuals, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come."
Dr. Yang is currently the chair of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, a member of the Kavli Foundation board, and Chair of the Thirty Meter Telescope project. more »
12.11.2011
The science of astronomy is witnessing a resurgence in India, with the Indian Government pushing for participation in several international projects, said Shrinivas Kulkarni, professor of astronomy and planetary sciences at the California Institute of Technology, US. more »
11.26.2011
On November 15, 2011, Dr. Masanori Iye was decorated with the Medal with Purple Ribbon (Shiju Houshou). This honor was given to him not only for his excellence in leading cutting-edge research in astronomy but also for his numerous contributions to the academic world during his lengthy career. Dr. Iye is currently the Director of the TMT (Thirty Meter Telescope) Project Office of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). more »
11.16.2011
Governor Neil Abercrombie and University of Hawai‘i President MRC Greenwood hosted a reception on Nov. 11 at Washington Place, Honolulu, for officials and community leaders associated with the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope. Among the guests were TMT officials, representatives from Big Island and astronomy communities; federal, state and UH officials; and benefactors. UH Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney attended. more »
10.11.2011
Indian equipment and technology could play a stellar role in Nobel-worthy astrophysics discoveries in the next decade. A massive, proposed telescope at Hawaii is likely to see contributions worth around INR 800 crore from India, the highest yet by the country in this area, a sign of its rising assertiveness in international high-technology experiments. more »
08.25.2011
First Hawaiian Bank hosted its annual Business Economic Outlook meetings on Thursday in conjunction with the two major Hawaii Island chambers of commerce. According to Dr. Leroy Laney, faculty member at Hawaii Pacific University, development of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) telescope atop Mauna Kea remains on track, thanks to approval of its permit in February by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. “It is hard to overestimate the importance of this project for jobs, the construction industry, UH-Hilo base facilities and the image of the island generally,” he said. more »
08.21.2011
We know Hawaii by its sun, surf and sand, but there is another facet of the islands waiting to be explored. Liu Weifeng shows us the darker side where attractions gleam in the night. more »