News

First of its Kind Superbright Supernova

First of its Kind Superbright Supernova

Berkeley, Calif. – A discovery of an extraordinarily bright, extraordinarily long-lasting supernova named SN 2007bi turns out to be the …
A Galactic “fossil” in the core of the Milky Way

A Galactic “fossil” in the core of the Milky Way

KAMUELA, HI—Astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory and the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope have identified two distinct …
Rapid Supernova Could be New Class of Exploding Star

Rapid Supernova Could be New Class of Exploding Star

BERKELEY, CA—An unusual supernova rediscovered in seven-year-old data taken at the W. M. Keck Observatory and Lick Observatory may be …
A New View of the Moon

A New View of the Moon

KAMUELA, HI—On Oct. 9, astronomers at the W. M. Keck Observatory used the Keck II telescope to search for water …
Keck Interferometer Nuller Spots Double Dust Cloud

Keck Interferometer Nuller Spots Double Dust Cloud

KAMUELA, Hawaii (Sept. 24, 2009) — Linking the twin, 10-meter telescopes in Hawaii, astronomers at the W. M. Keck Observatory …
Jupiter Adds a Feature

Jupiter Adds a Feature

Mauna Kea, Hawai’i — Jupiter’s got a brand new mark. Something slammed into the gas giant leaving a dark bruise …
New Method Finds Most Distant Supernovae

New Method Finds Most Distant Supernovae

Mauna Kea, Hawai’i—Astronomers have yet again rewritten the record books for discovering the most distant supernovae. Using Hawaii’s W. M …
Exoplanet's Tilted Orbit Challenges Theories of Planet Formation

Exoplanet’s Tilted Orbit Challenges Theories of Planet Formation

An international team of astronomers has discovered an exoplanet whose orbit is steeply tilted from the plane of the star’s …
Enceladus Shows Little Sodium Leaving Scientists Questioning Existence of Underground Ocean

Enceladus Shows Little Sodium Leaving Scientists Questioning Existence of Underground Ocean

One of Saturn’s moons, Enceladus, appears to be missing some sodium. The new observations made at the W. M. Keck …
Keck Laser Helps Astronomers Probe the Nature of Massive Galaxies in the Early Universe

Keck Laser Helps Astronomers Probe the Nature of Massive Galaxies in the Early Universe

PASADENA, Calif.—Astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory have discovered distant galaxies as massive as the Milky Way yet ten …
Berkeley Astronomers Lift Shroud on Dark Gamma Ray Bursts

Berkeley Astronomers Lift Shroud on Dark Gamma Ray Bursts

PASADENA, Calif.—Astronomers using the Keck telescopes may have solved the mystery of dark gamma ray bursts—intense flashes of X-ray and …
Mysterious Space Blob Discovered at Cosmic Dawn

Mysterious Space Blob Discovered at Cosmic Dawn

Astronomers using a suite of telescopes including the W. M. Keck Observatory have discovered a giant gas object that may …