Media
Cosmic Videos
Astronomy Talk: Large Space Observatories: The Missions and Designs of Chandra and James Webb Space Telescope
Large space observatories are a foundation for scientific advancement. This talk will explore the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope. Their missions, designs, construction, and testing will be explained and discussed. Some of the unique challenges for designing a large state-of-the-art observatory will be shared along with some key lessons. Guest Speaker […]
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Astronomy with Keck Observatory (Virtual): A New Surprise in the Accelerating Universe
In 1998, two essentially independent research teams made a shocking announcement, based in part on observations made with the Keck telescopes: since the measured brightness of distant supernovae (exploding stars) was fainter than predicted, the expansion of the Universe must be speeding up rather than decelerating. Since then, the evidence for cosmic acceleration, propelled by […]
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Astronomy Talk: The Past, Present, and Future of Space Telescopes
Maunakea Observatories are among the most powerful ground-based telescopes in the world. They become even more powerful when combined with the use of telescopes in space, allowing astronomers to explore the extremes of the universe. As the best-known space observatory – the Hubble Space Telescope – approaches its 30th year in operation, Professor Howk will […]
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Astronomy Talk: Spectroscopy: How Astronomy Really Gets Done
Everyone knows a picture is worth a thousand words, but a spectrum is worth at least a thousand pictures. The history of spectroscopy is intricately linked with every major discovery in astronomy and astrophysics in the last 120 years. In this talk, Dr. O’Meara, Chief Scientist at Keck Observatory, will take a brief tour through […]
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Astronomy Talk: Quest for the Spirit of Ānuenue: Chasing Rainbows
University of Hawai`i Professor Steven Businger will offer a layman’s look at the cultural and historical significance of rainbows in Hawai`i. He will also present the science behind rainbow phenomenon and why Hawai`i is the best place in the world for observing rainbows. His talk will include a visually stunning tour of the variety of […]
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Astronomy with Keck Observatory (Virtual): Connecting to Other Worlds
What distant worlds are out there? What are they like? What can they teach us about our place in the universe? You are already connected to other worlds, both real and fictitious, through space-time, art, astronomy, and your imagination. Astronomer Dr. Lauren Weiss from the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy will take us on […]
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Astronomy Talk: PŌWEHI Hawaii and the Event Horizon Telescope
Join us to talk story about the groundbreaking results from the Event Horizon Telescope and the pioneering role the Maunakea Observatories played in this nearly-impossible experiment. We will also explore the way in which Hawaiian language and culture are enriching astronomy with a bridge to a new, yet old, understanding of the cosmos. Guest […]
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Astronomy with Keck Observatory (Virtual): Through the Eyes of an Astronomer: Cosmic Discoveries at Keck Observatory
The W. M. Keck Observatory has been in operation for more than 25 years as the world’s largest optical and infrared telescopes. Observations made at Keck Observatory have fundamentally changed our understanding of the universe. In this talk, Dr. Josh Walawender will share his favorite Keck Observatory discoveries and explain how they’ve rewritten astronomy textbooks. […]
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Astronomy Talk: In Search of the Ultimate Ruler: The Grand Challenge of Distances in Astronomy
Even with the most powerful telescopes and instrumentation, astronomy faces a fundamental problem: the ability to determine the distance to objects in the cosmos. From the solar system to the cosmic microwave background, the history of astronomy is intertwined with the hunt for a better distance measure. This talk will trace that history and that […]
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Astronomy Talk: A Primitive Planetesimal in the Kuiper Belt Explored by New Horizons
NASA’s New Horizons mission broke records on New Year’s Day 2019 after encountering the most distant object in our solar system ever explored by a spacecraft – a small Kuiper Belt object named 486958 2014 MU69, also known as Ultima Thule. The peanut-shaped object’s distinct shape, called a contact binary, holds important clues about how […]
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