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Cosmic Matters
W. M. Keck Observatory Chief Scientist Appointed to National Science Foundation
W. M. Keck Observatory Congratulates Chief Scientist Anne Kinney on New Appointment with National Science Foundation Kinney to Head NSF Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate Waimea (Kamuela), Hawaii – W. M. Keck Observatory congratulates Keck Observatory Chief Scientist Anne Kinney on her appointment as the director of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), the largest department […]
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How Two Ground-based Telescopes Support NASA’s Cassini Mission
Maunakea, Hawaii – When NASA’s Cassini spacecraft plunges into the atmosphere of Saturn on Sept. 15, ending its 20 years of exploration, astronomers will observe the giant planet from Earth, giving context to Cassini’s final measurements. “The whole time Cassini is descending, we’ll be on the ground, taking data and learning about conditions on Saturn,” […]
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New Storm Makes Surprise Appearance on Neptune
Extremely large, bright storm system caught on camera at W. M. Keck Observatory Maunakea, Hawaii – Striking images of a storm system nearly the size of Earth have astronomers doing a double-take after pinpointing its location near Neptune’s equator, a region where no bright cloud has ever been seen before. “Seeing a storm this bright at […]
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In Memoriam: Jerry Nelson (1944-2017)
Remembering a legend, pioneer, and father of the W. M. Keck Observatory telescopes “You can’t. It’s never been done. It’s impossible,” they said. But Jerry Nelson believed he could. He did. And he proved that it is possible. “He was a giant. Even if you didn’t really know him, you could just feel that this […]
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New Method of Searching for Fifth Force
W. M. Keck Observatory Data Leads To First Of Its Kind Test of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity A UCLA-led team has discovered a new way of probing the hypothetical fifth force of nature using two decades of observations at W. M. Keck Observatory, the world’s most scientifically productive ground-based telescopes. There are four known forces […]
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Judy Cohen Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
W. M. Keck Observatory Congratulates Caltech’s Kate Van Nuys Page Professor of Astronomy for Prestigious Appointment Maunakea, Hawaii – It’s one of the highest honors that only the most distinguished scholars in the nation can receive, one that is so prestigious, nearly 500 of its exclusive members have won Nobel prizes. As a legendary figure […]
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Even in Deep Space, There Are Shades of Black
BY FARISA Y. MORALES for Zocalo Public Square In my line of work, I stare at shades of black. My work starts on dark, black nights, when there is no moon or reflection from it. The telescopes I use have to be in places with three qualities: High, dry, and — you guessed it — very […]
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New Calibration Tool Will Help Astronomers Look for Habitable Exoplanets
by Adam Hadhazy PASADENA, Calif. — Promising new calibration tools, called laser frequency combs, could allow astronomers to take a major step in discovering and characterizing earthlike planets around other stars. These devices generate evenly spaced lines of light, much like the teeth on a comb for styling hair or the tick marks on a ruler […]
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Hawaii Discovers: The World’s Leading Observatory Was Born in Hawaii 25 Years Ago
By Steve Jefferson Twenty-five years ago in 1990, the average US house cost $123,000, the Dow Jones averaged 2633 and gasoline cost a little more than a dollar-thirty a gallon. Saturn wasn’t just a planet: it was now a newly launched car company from GM, The Simpsons was aired for the first time and the […]
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“First Light” Marks 25 Years of Hawaii’s Leadership in Astronomy
By Sean Adkins Every night, all over the world, people look up at the sky and wonder about the distant stars. Here in Hawaii we have the privilege of looking up at a very dark sky, but even here with the naked eye we can only see a few thousand stars. This is mainly because […]
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