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D 2 Sunday, November 12,2017 HawaiiTribune-Herald So much to be proud of ome of the big questions mana’o and timeless lessons con u-i generated by 20th century necting earth, sea, sky and spirit. astronomy may be answered Though their wisdom, we are remind Sin the 21Stcentury, and the ed of the sacred nature of this space, Maunakea Observatories will be Maunakea, which links us to distant 0 key to finding those answers. space. This ancient endeavor, astronomy, Our knowledge of the origin and is framed today by Maunakea. It serves makeup of the universe is growing as a beacon to find our way home, a pris exponentially.A couple of decades tine portal on the universe, and in time, a ago, the only planets known to exist symbol of peace. Nowhere else on Earth were in our solar system. Now we does this conjunction occur. Nowhere. know that most stars have planets, and With that as background, what are thousands of them have been detected some of those discoveries on our hori directly, including from Maunakea. zon when viewed from Maunakea? Likewise, black holes were the Having helped establish how com oretical constructs throughout most mon planets are in our galaxy, next-gen of the 20th century. Now we know research will focus on finding nearby some of the most habitable planets by dedicating sophisti they are real, with DougSimons compelling observations made to cated new instruments and large blocks date coming from Maunakea. Executivedirector, of observing time to sweep the sky for the faint signatures of distant worlds. What are some of the big answers Canada-Erance-HawaiiTelescope that are potentially on the horizon stem If the Thirty Meter Telescope is built, ming from the Maunakea Observatories? Observatories are connected to — and biomarkers in the atmospheres of these First, a closer look at Hawaii’s only derived from — our community in planets stermning from life may be dis billion-dollar scientific research com countless ways. Community engage covered, etching an accomplishment into plex is needed to better understand ment and support, particularly of our the annals of history for Hawaii that will Credits how these answers will emerge. keild through education, is natural stand out for centuries. Having first prov Based upon the number and qual and central to the future of Hawaii en that a massive black hole is lurking ity of publications, the Maunakea astronomy. Key programs include: in the heart of our Milky Way galaxy, Editor Observatories are collectively No. 1 • The Journey Through the Universe observations are being conducted world DavidBock worldwide in their scientific product. program that touches the better part wide (and, critically,from Maunakea) This is attributable to many things, of 10,000 students each year; that will be used to capture an image including the exquisite nature of the • AstroDays at the Prince of that black hole — another first. Writer site that produces some of the sharpest Kuhio Plaza and Kona Commons Fantastically powerful new instru TomCallis views of the cosmos on our planet. that draw thousands; mentation under development now will It is also due to decades of invest • The Kama’aina Observatory be used to study and perhaps identify the nature of the dominant form of Photography ment by governments from around Experience that provides monthly the world that sponsor pure research, programs dedicated to the cultur matter in the universe — dark matter. HollynJohnson like astronomy.The bulk of the $70 al, environmental, and scientif The recent Noble Award winning obser million that is invested annually to ic dimensions of Maunakea; vations by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-WaveObservatory of grav Design operate the Maunakea Observatories • The Akamai Intern Program passes directly into the local economy that has trained hundreds of local itational waves emitted from merging BonnieL.Rogers through the salaries of our local staffs. college students in STEM fields; black holes has rekindled interest in the Maunakea astronomy is an aggre • The Maunakea Scholars pro possibility that dark matter isn’t some gator of innovation, new knowledge, gram that opens the doors to the form of exotic particle, but countless clean high-tech jobs, educational Maunakea Observatories to high primordial black holes created during opportunities, international fund school students across the state to the Big Bang. if true, in a startling sense, On cover ing, technology development, and conduct their own research projects. black holes may be critical for life. the global esteem in perhaps the most All of these impactful local pro Intrigued? Welcome to the frontier ancient and revered field of science. grams demonstrate the commitment of new knowledge about the universe, Photo Thanks to the 100-plus local com of the MaunalceaObservatories to the about ourselves.We, the people of Hawaii, have so much to be proud of, AndrewRichardHara panies that support the Maunakea community from which we come. Observatories, nearly $100 miffionin Of course, what makes all of this including the beautiful Hawaiian culture Website annual economic impact is felt across possible is the people of Hawaii, in that grounds our communities, and a leg www.andrewhara.com Hawaii Island. Astronomy’s economic particular those of the First Nation of acy of discovery that in this century will impact statewide ($175 million) is about Hawaii that first called these islands help point the way for centuries to come. Email Doug Simons is executive director of the half that of agriculture and forestry home centuries ago and created a last [email protected] 3.6-meter Canada-france-Hawaii Telescope combined — a respectable contributor ing cultural treasure that serves as the and former director of the Gemini Observatory to Hawaii’s economy by any measure. foundation for Hawaii’s future. None This column was written at the request of the With a 50-year legacy,the Maunakea of this would be possible without their Tribune-Herald specificallyfor this publication. Hawaii Tribune-Herald Sunday, November 12,2017 3 The birth of an institute HowaboldideaahalfcenturyagoputMaunakeaattheforefrontofastronomy
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72 From TOUR Hawaii Tribune-Herald Sunday, November 12,2017 73
TOUR From page 12
of Wakea (the sky father) Another mele describes telescope mirrors in the large window to the universe. and Papahanaumoku deities on Maunakea — world, next to the 10.4-meter Ed Hickey, summit (the earth mother). Poliahu, the snow goddess, Gran Telescopio Canarias tour host, explains the “I think everyone is here and others — that Yuen in Spain’s Canary Islands. mirror segments are con today because of aloha for explained reflected a deep Keck was the first to use tinually being refinished the mountain,” she said, after understanding of hydrol this method and the tele to keep them flawless. welcoming the two dozen ogy and other forces of scopes have proved to be an “At the end of the year, visitors. “Whether you’re a nature on the mountain. immense success, capturing they will get done with Keck cultural practitioner, a scien “Whether you believe in distant exoplanets and the 1 and then come back in tist ... we have mutual aloha them as a deity or you want most distant galaxy to date. January to do Keck 2,” he for this island, this mountain.” to use them for a metaphor The mirror’s surface is said. “So, it’s like painting While explaining the of hydrology of the moun as smooth as it gets, and it the Golden Gate Bridge. Kumulipo, she said Hawaiian tain, or whether you just can be almost easy to miss. You’re never done.” culture counts genealogy from enjoy the poetry, the changes As the group walked in, the The telescope works by the time of creation, not just these songs talk about is still telescope was angled toward reflecting photons to a sec from parents or grandparents. extremely accurate,” she said. the dome’s walls, creating ondary mirror, which focuses “We go all the way back The tour started with 24 HOLLYNJOHNSON/Tribune-Herald such a flawless reflection the light and sends it to a to the beginning,” Yuen people a month, but has that at least one visitor com third mirror that directs it Leilehua Yuen is a cultural said. “... That time when since been expanded to 48 practitioner. mented they thought they to one of the instruments. the entire cosmos was this to meet demand. Still, spots were looking through to Each telescope dome wailing blackness and dark fill up in the first five min There’s no shortage of the wall on the other side. is chilled to that evening’s ness that coalesced until utes on the website, kamaa chicken skin moments. The illusion disappeared forecast temperature, making finally it gave birth to light inaobservatoryexperience. Sitting atop of 270 as the telescope effort them much colder than the and all time was born.” org. The only requirement is tons of steel, Keck’s twin lessly changed position. rest of the facility, to elimi She said that reminds them a Hawaii driver’s license. 10-meter mirrors are made When the dome opens nate any air disturbance in that they are a “little piece The tour’s soaring inter of 36 hexagonal segments. at night, these 3-inch-thick in this great big cosmos.” est comes as no surprise. They are the biggest optical segments together become a See TOURPage 14
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HOLLYNJOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Ed Hickey,summit tour host, talks with guests in the control room oftheW.M. KeckObservatory in September.
TOUR From page 13
the room when it opens. this camera instead of Hubble.” “It’s like stepping into a freezer at Subaru is unique in another — Costco,” Hickey explained beforehand. way — it’s telescope enclosure is At both Subaru and Keck, visitors more rectangular than curved. were taken into control rooms where Kakazu said its doors open hor workers operate the telescopes. izontally like a Japanese sliding As it was a Saturday, many door, and the telescope “bows” of the workers, most of whom as it is put into position. are from Hawaii Island, were Subaru also is the only observatory absent, tour guides noted. to have done regular tours, apart from But the control room at Subaru Kama’aina Observatory Experience. wasn’t entirely empty. Hanging up Cartoons from anime artists who were several teru teru bozu, ghost have visited are drawn as signatures like puppets made of tissue paper. on a tool used to transport instruments. Yuko Kakazu, Subaru spokes Hunter, who helps lead the woman, said they are prayers for tours, said the program’s pur Maunakea’s I I I Fl good weather. While pose is to show “the wonder of clear about 300 days a skies are Maunakea, in all aspects.” year, a single overcast night can ruin In that, visitors that day an astronomer’s research plans. said they succeeded. “You are desperate when William “Wolfman” Gass, of you have bad weather, right?” Volcano, said he wished the she said. “Youjust make tern pro earlier. tern bozu and you hang it.” gram was started While Keck has the larg “I think with all the controversy est mirrors on the mountain, and stuff I think it’s a pity this wasn’t Subaru boasts the biggest sin available for the past 10 or 15 years gle-piece mirror at 8.2 meters. and got the local people out to see It also hosts a unique instru what’s going on here and to take ment — the Subarn hyper advantage of it all,” he said. “I think suprime-cam — which specializ we have a certain understanding of es in widefield views of the uni the importance of this location and verse and mapping the cosmos. how we have to achieve a balance “That’s why we build this tele between cultural issues and science.” scope,” Kakazu said. “If you want to Email Tom Callis at tcatlis@ map the universe, it’s better to use hawaiitribune-heraid.corn. HawaiiTribune-Herald Sunday, November 12,2017 15 ‘Blown away by their creativity’ MaunakeaScholarsprogramputsmassivetelescopesinthehandsofhighschoolstudents
ByTOMCALLIS HawaiiTribune-Herald itan, the largest moon that orbits Saturn, was long shroud ed in mystery after being dis Tcovered in the 17th century. Following the recent Cassini spacecraft mission, it’s now known the moon, which is larger than Mercury, hides lakes and seas made of liquid hydrocarbons under its thick atmosphere, and that its surface temperature is a frigid minus 292 degrees Fahrenheit. On this world, it rains methane, though oceans of liquid water and ammonia are likely present below the surface. That could make it a chal lenging place for life to devel op, at least as we know it. On a September evening atop Maunakea, three Honokaa High School students — Anilca Wiley, Marie-Claire Ely and Kaitlin Villafuerte — sought to find out by using the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. “We had a couple moons in mind and we narrowed it down to Titan mainly because of the atmosphere,” said Marie-Claire, 15, a senior. “We’re looking for something that can show us evidence there has been life.” Each are active in the school’s astronomy club and jumped at the opportunity to use one of the mountain’s telescopes through the Maunakea Scholars program. These students are doing more than shadowing astronomers. They are doing the research and com ing up with the ideas themselves, sometimes at PhD levels, said Mary Beth Laychack, outreach manag er for the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and the students’ mentor. “We’re continually blown away by their creativity,” she said, not ing that some research ideas have to be turned down because they would take years to conduct. About 315 students, most of whom received school credit, have HOLLYNJOHNsONrrribune-Herald Honokaa High School students, from left, Kaitlin Villafuerte, Anika Wiley and Marie-Claire Elyobserve Titan with the See SCHOLARSPage 16 NASAInfrared Telescope Facility. ______
16 Sunday,November12,2017
HOCLYNJOHNSONITribune-Herald NASA Infrared Telescope Facility Deputy Director Bob Bus points to the telescope’s instruments. I
SCHOLARSFrompagel5
gone through the program from gives the students a tour of the dome participating schools across the as well as advice on how to work in state since its launch in 2015. the lower oxygen environment. (Tip: But few step foot into an actual tele food helps, and doughnuts, which scope. These days, a they brought with small crew is usually them, taste better all that’s needed “We had a couple at higher altitude). to run a telescope moons in mind and we Bus said the at night, allowing telescope, owned astronomers to do narrowed it down to by NASA but ran their part remotely. Titan mainly because by the University of “I work from my Hawaii at Manoa, kitchen table all the of the atmosphere. was built to assist time down in Hilo,” looking the space agen said Bob Bus, NITF We’re for cy’s spacecraft deputy director. something that can missions, a role “You can actually it still fills to this get a PhD in astron show us evidence day with the recent omy without going there has been life,” Cassini mission. to a telescope.” While the The students’ trip — Marie-Claire,senior spacecraft pro to the observatory vides the close- was the last night of three they spent ups, the ground-based telescope viewing Titan and collecting data. The captures the baseline data of other two were done at CFHT head Earth’s neighbors to help NASA quarters in Waimea, Laychack said. understand what it is seeing. Built in 1979, the box-shaped NffF “It’s like watching a really long is one of the oldest on the mountain. soap opera for many, many years to The building has a metallic-looking put into context that one scene,” Bus dome, the top of which rotates to allow said, while describing the telescope’s the 3-meter telescope to find its targets. work. When it’s not studying planets The light is reflected from the and moons, the observatory is discov primary mirror to a smaller sec ering smaller objects, such as asteroids, ondaiy mirror at top of the tele many of which he gets to name. scope structure that sends the pho Pictures of planets taken by tons into one of the instruments NASA spacecraft line the walls of attached at the telescope’s base. the telescope’s control room, Before they begin their observing, which lasts about two hours, Bus See SCHOLARSPage 18 HawaiiTribune-Herald Sunday, November 12,2017 77 Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee
NAKEA DBSERVATDRIES
Find us on I Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee - MKAOC or on the web http://mkaoc.org ‘I
18 Sunday, November 12, 2017 Hawaü Tribune-Herald
SCHOLARSFrompage 16
where the students work atmosphere, reach the tele “Mi these bumps and wig out right now by a scientist alongside the two telescope scope, and show up on their gles are tied to molecules,” from Cornell (University).” operators, who help get computer screens, Bus said. Bus said, as he points out After returning to Hale the mirror into position. To ensure they are getting ridges and troughs in the lines. Pohaku, the students grabbed But it’s up to the students the best data, the telescope It’s essentially the bar cups of hot chocolate and to run the instruments, con shifts between Titan and code of the moon’s atmo reflected on their evening. trol the telescope’s exposure what’s known as a “guide sphere and gives a snapshot “I still feel like a kid to ensure as many photons star” Laychack said they in time of what’s happening playing with a telescope,” are collected as possible, use the star, this one locat on our distant neighbor. said Kaitlin, 16, a junior. make sure the telescope ed near the constellation It’s the same technique “At least I know I could stays on target, as well as Scorpious, also known as astronomers will use to find do it if I wanted to.” document their steps. Maui’s fishhook, so they will planets in far-off solar sys Laychack said the pro If a step is missed or know if their instruments tems that could harbor life. gram’s goal is not to cre delayed, that means less are working correctly. While they may not ate the next generation of light is collected, and Bus Once they switch to Titan, have found evidence for astronomers, but to inspire is there to make sure not a the moon appears on one of MaryBethLaychack new lifeforms that night, keiki to seek careers in any second of science is wasted. their computer screens in Canada-France-HawaiiTelescope the research will provide field of science, technology, “I tend to be a task driv the infrared. What they see data that could be cited one engineering or mathematics, bending across one of er,”he said. “I’m tiying to is more of a gray smudge day in a scientific paper. commonly known as STEM. instill that a little bit.” than the colorful pictures the student’s screens. “By allowing different Asked what this would Saturn averages about captured by Cassini. It might not look fasci groups to observe many times, have meant to her if she had 886 million miles from the But they’re not here to nating, but this type of data you can get what’s called a similar opportunity in high sun — more than nine times get the prettiest picture. can tell researchers what’s time-domain astronomy,”Bus school, she said: “I would have Earth’s distance. Depending What they’re after is to cap going on in Titan’s atmo said. “Many things aren’t died. It would have meant the on positions of both Earth and ture and analyze the spec sphere, including what type constant. In fact, the data they world to me, and I know it Saturn, it takes the photons trum of light reflecting off of chemicals are most abun are taking right now could means the world to them.” roughly 174 minutes to leave the moon’s atmosphere. dant. That could give clues be used by a larger scientific Email Tom Cattis at tcallis@ the sun, bounce off Titan’s That shows up as lines to the presence of life. project that is being carried hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Mahalo 3 Thank you 142%local hire rate We offer JOB OPPORTUNITIES (check our website) • STUDENTINTERNSHIP PROGRAM • EDUCATIONat our Local Schools http:/)Subcruielescope .org
• Guided tour at the Subaru Telescope (16 years or older) • Base Facility Tour and Staff Presentations Signupat TheSubawWebsite: • Fordetailsvisit Subaru Home Page > Visiting the Subaru Telescope . Subaru Home Page> For Educators > Staff Presentation Program HawaiiTribune-Herald Sunday, November 12,2017 79 Take a Journey Through the Universe
ByTOMCALL1S AustinBarnes,programmanager, HawaiiTribune-Herald saidtheyplacecollegestudentsat observatoriesandotherhigh-technology ourneyThroughthe Universehas Andre-Nicolas businessesinthe state.Theyare set up enteredmorethan300 class Chene of the withmentorsandgainvaluablereal- J roomsinthe past 14 years, Gemini world infieldsofscience, accordingto GeminiObservatory Observatory tells experience technology,engineeringand outreachmanagerJaniceHarvey. third- mathe STEM. TheGemini-ledprogramsendsmore grader matics,commonlyknownas Dazlyn Urbanozo in and than80 observatoryprofessionalsto Theprogramstarted 2003 has -Alves about helpedmotethan350 Hawaiistudents. talkwithstudentsaboutthe cosmos the distances andsharetheirpassionforscience. Barnessaidithelpsmanyfind between stars in careersinHawaiiwhentheymaythink Butitwasn’tguaranteed 2015 during the that’snotpossibleintheirfields. itwouldlastthislong. Journey Through “Iwasofthe mindIwouldhave HawaiiIsland’sJourneyThroughthe Universe the to leavelikea lotofpeopleare,” Universewas initiallyoneofseveral program. aroundthe country,buttheirfunding saidBarnes,a formerintern. HOLLYNJOHNSON! Akamaiisfundedbythe Hawaii ranoutinthe secondyear,Harveysaid. Tribune-Herald Shesaidlocalbusinessesandorgani CommunityFoundation,ThirtyMeter ofScientific zationshavesteppedinto providethe weregoingthroughwithit,”she said. morethanastronomy.” Telescope,AirForceOffice moneyto sustainandgrowthe effort. Harveysaidthe observatoriessee Theprogramvisitsclassroomsfrom Research,NationalScienceFoundation, Harveysaiditstartedinthe itas partoftheir“moralobligation” kindergartenthrough12thgrade. DanielK.lnouyeSolarTelescope Waiakeacomplexschoolsbutnow to the islandthatsupportsthem. Forstudentswhowantto pur and NationalSolarObservatory. is nearlyan islandwideprogram. “ peakstheirinterest”insci sue a jobat a telescope,there’s EmailTomCailisat tcallis@ ‘Wedecidedas a communitywe ence,she said,“It’saboutmuch theAkamaiInternshipProgram. hawalltribune-herald.com.
23
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u o — — — - —. -fawaiiTribune-Herald Sunday, November 12,2017 23 Are we alone? You can’t imagine humanity hasn’t asked that question from the very beginning looking up at the stars. It’s kind of the ultimate question: What else is out there?
PeterMichaudIGeminispokesman EXOPLANETS From page 21
The former was pioneered at CFHT in the 1980s, Moutou said. “A few dozen planets were searched for and it was 10 years before the first one was discovered,” she said. “They missed it by that much.” The credit for finding the first exo planet around a sun-like star goes to Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz, who announced the discovery of 51 Pegasi-b in 1995. They found the needle in the hay stack that everyone else missed. “At the time, they thought it was due to stellar rotation and not planets,” Moutou said, regarding earlier obser vations. “... You have to break that wall and say, ‘That’s a discovery.” The planet, a “hot Jupiter,” is a gas giant with an orbit tighter than Mercury’s, making the gravitational dance it has with its host star more pro nounced and easier to detect. On this world, a year lasts a mere four days. It technically wasn’t the first exo planet. A few years before, plan ets were detected orbiting a dead star known as a pulsar, leaving the possibility that the planets were a byproduct of the star’s supernova. What made the ‘95 discovery sig nificant was that the planet orbits a sun more similar to our own. And that opened the floodgates. “Maybe not all of them, but most of them have a planetary system,” Moutou said regarding stars in the galaxy. “Many of them have several planets.” An artist’s rendering of Kepler-78b, an Earth-sized rocky exoplanet discovered by Roberto Sanchis-Ojeda with the In the field of exoplanet discoveries, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, using Kepler Space Telescope data, and confirmed by Andrew Howard with the University of Hawaii’sInstitute for Astronomy, using the W.M.KeckObservatory atop Maunakea. See EXOPLANETSPage 24 I 24 Sunday, November 12,2017 HawaiiTribune-Herald there to here and the study this ETS light and interpret what it is.” EXOPLAN She was referring to spectros From page 23 copy, the method of analyzing light reflected off an object to Maunakea has made several firsts. determine its characteristics. In 1999, W.M. Keck Observatory “Chemicals or molecules in made the first detection of an exo the atmosphere absorb some of planet transiting its host star. the light,” Moutou said. “And I The first direct images of exo so we can have the spectrum of planets came in 2008 when the the atmosphere of the planet.” Gemini and Keck telescopes cap Those show up as lines on the tured four planets in orbit around light spectrum, representing a bar a star known as HR 8799. Each code of sorts for the planet. are more massive than Jupiter. Such data has been recovered from Peter Michaud, a spokesman for a few exoplanets that orbit too close to Gemini, said a direct image of a their star to be in the habitable zone. planet in another solar system was While life might take different long seen as the “holy grail.” forms on different worlds, Moutou “The new challenge is to image said what astronomers want to gen smaller and smaller worlds,” he said. erally look for is an imbalance of Michaud said the discovery was gasses, such as an abundance of possible because of the observ oxygen; water molecules and light ing conditions on Maunakea. HOLLYNJOHNSON/Tribune-Herald wavelengths that could be pro have a fairly bright photons reflecting off “You need to Claire Moutou, resident astronomer at Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, sits in duced from star, the like a surface covered in vegetation. you need technology her office in Waimea. adaptive optics, but you really need “Life which is everywhere, which the exquisite atmospheric conditions to remains: Do any of them have life? spaceships where we can trav has a common signature, and which be able to use it effectively,” he said. The mere numbers suggests so. el and take a look at the soil,” has impacted the atmosphere After a quarter century of exo But the proof is in the pudding. Moutou said. “We still have to rely planet research, a major question “We are not in the age of on the light which travels from See EXOPLANETSPage 25
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Hawaii Tribune-Herald Sunday, November 12,2017 25 pulsed, amplitude-modulated With bigger and better tele EXOPLAN ETS radio transmission seems unique scopes and instruments on the way, ly attributable to intelligence.” it’s hard not to feel like astronomy From page 24 Those measurements were is on the cusp of a major discovery. taken within our own solar sys But asked how soon might of the planet will be recogniz tem. To do the same for planets another world with life be able from Earth,” she said. millions of light years away, confirmed, Moutou hesi I So far, scientists have used and especially those in a hab tates. It could be within the spectroscopy to confirm life on itable zone, will require bigger few decades, she suggests. only one planet, and it’s one with telescopes, Moutou said. One thing is known, though. The which we’re quite familiar. Existing telescopes on Maunakea impact of finding another world In the early’90s, famed cos aren’t giving up on the hunt. with plants or creatures, no matter mologist Carl Sagan proposed the Several, such as CFHT, their form, would be enormous. Galileo spacecraft mm its instru Keck and Gemini, are plan “There have been a lot of rev ments toward Earth as it traveled to ning new advanced instruments olutions like that in recent history Jupiter to test whether such meth to find more exoplanets. of humanity,” she said, citing the ods could be used to find signs of While new space telescopes realization the Earth is not the cen life. That was done successfully. are being launched, Moutou ter of the universe as an example. “In its December 1990 fly-by of said ground-based telescopes “Knowing Earth is just one earth Earth, the Galileo spacecraft found will continue to play an essen of millions and billions of earths evidence of abundant gaseous oxy tial role. One of the limitations in the galactic neighborhood may gen, a widely distributed surface of space telescopes is their change our view of ourselves. It pigment with a sharp absorption instruments can’t be replaced. may make us more humble. I think edge in the red part of the visible “We can do that from the ground it will be a very positive impact.” spectrum, and atmospheric methane and it’s much more expensive to Michaud agreed. in extreme thermodynamic disequi send satellites with these,” she “Are we alone? You can’t imag libtium; together, these are strongly said. “Ground-based telescopes are ine humanity hasn’t asked that suggestive of life on Earth,” Sagan very much important as a synergy question from the very beginning HOLLYNJOHNSON/Tribune-Herald and his co-authors wrote in the with space telescopes to measure looking up at the stars,” he said. Peter Michaud, Gemini Observatory public journal Nature in 1993. “Moreover, and catalog the planetary sys “It’s kind of the ultimate ques information manager, sits in the lobby at the presence of narrow-band, tems we are about to discover.” tion: What else is out there?” Gemini headquarters in Hilo.
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__A L MaS JOy WWW.ISLANDNATURALS.COM =1 P.5-64293 -1.• -- Begier.-- HILO KAILUA-KONA PAHOA , 808-640-2544 (808) 935-5533 (808) 326-1122 (808) 965-8322 96720 Realty I RB-14405 St. Hilo HI 1808-935-0737 1121 KIIAUEAAVE. 74-5487 KAIWI ST. DOWNTOWN Mary Begier 1107 Aupuni #315 I HILO SHOPPING CENTER OLD INDUSTRIAL AREA I 26 Sunday,Novemberl2,2017 HawaiiTribune-Herald Ready for anything Operatinginadangerousenvironment,rangersandroadcrewhelpprotectvisitors,staff— andMaunakeaitself
ByTOMCALLIS rangers ambulanceor police car, is up to an hour away. HawaiiTribune-Herald Maunakea Paiva said each ranger carriesmedical gear in their vehicles, including oxygen tanks, as cotty Paiva has worn many dif What makes them effective,Paivasaid,is show well as extra water.juice and snacksfor those ferent hats over the years. ing aloha for others while also askingthem to who find the altitude not agreeing with them. He’s been a police officer,fire show the same respect for the place they’rein. “Youneverknow what’son the other side man, Coast Guard reserve commander, ‘We want people to leave here betterthan they of the hill,” he said, as he drove down from and5even a nighttime telescopetechnician. came’ he said. “Come up, have a nice time — it’s a the summit as part of a routine patrol. What connectsmost of them is a desire to wonderfulplace — and leave feeling better So our About 20 minutes later, Paiva stopped his help others. But be says fewjobs can com guys are tryingto be the ambassadors of aloha’ vehicle as he saw a woman and man hiking I pare to his current role as the Officeof Paivasaid most people want to do up the road, mostly wearing light clothing. MaunakeaManagement’schief ranger. the right thing, but he pauses to knock “How are you guys doing?”he It’s what keeps the 60-year-oldHilo resi on a wooden table for good luck. asked.“Yougot enough water?” dent out of retirement,and one that makes him After all, accidentshappen. responsible for the well beingnot only for the Vehicles especially those without four-wheel p See RANGERSPage 27 thousandsof visitors each year — includingtour drive, sometimes lose their brakes as they descend ists observatoryworkers and Hawaiian cultural down the winding road from the summit. Hikers practitioners — but also the mountain itself or bicyclists — yes, there are people “There’sno place like this’ Paiva said, as he who ride bikes from sea level to the drove on the Maunakea access road far above summit — get caught in bad the clouds in a Toyota4-Runner. “Wewant weather,and, most commonly, to keep it as best as we can so my grandson’s visitorsjust aren’tprepared grandson’sgrandson can enjoy this place.” for lower oxygen lev Paiva is one nine full-timerangers who els as they ascend to are employed by the Universityof Hawaii at nearly 14,000feet. Hilo to assist visitors and protect the moun That means the tain’s natural and culturalresources in the rangers must be Maunakea Science Reserve.The university prepared forjust created the rangers program followingthe for about anything. mation of OMKM in 2000, a move intended to No matter what increase local managementof the mountain. happens, they’re Despite the title, being a ranger doesn’t come the first on the . with a lot of authority.Rangers don’t carryfire- scene, and addition and can’t make arrests or issue citations. al help, whetherby
I. HawaiiTribune-Herald Sunday, November 12,2017 2’ I RANGERSFrompage26 The young woman says what he had and left it.” yes and points to a water Cases of bad behavior are pack she’scarrying. rare, Pavia said. Sometimes “OK, OK, good’ people do things they don’t Paiva responded, before know are wrong or offensive. warning them about the He referred to one weather. It was sunny incident where a couple at the time, but that can people were found kay change, he told them. alting on Lake Waiau, a AlikaToledo and Miyashiro “Some clouds might be sacred spot to Hawailans. Tracy coming in soon so just keep A ranger saw the vehicle change the tire an eye on the weather’ Paiva driving up with the kay on a road grad said, “because you don’t have ak, only to find it parked er in September Hale very heavy clothes, it might at a trail head without it. at Pohaku Maunakea. get cold later on if it gets “So he walks in and on cloudy, misty and windy.” they’re on the lake,”Paiva HOLLYNJOHNSON! The hikers carry on said. “So, again, we’re the Tribune-Herald and Paiva puts his vehi eyes and ears of DOCARE.” cle back in gear. At the summit, rangers Maunakea road crew Those contacts occur will check on the obser several times a day, he said, vatories and Hawaiian noting he’s seen more hik shrines in the area, and ByTOM CALLIS “Youliftthe bladeup,youget ers, and even the occasional ask visitors to not walk up Hawaii Tribune-Herald itupto speedwiththeground,” jogger, over the years. Pu‘uWekiu, Maunakea’s Miyashirosaid,“andkindofhope While he was growing tallest point and another fter32 yearswork fullyfromtheretrytoslowitdown. up, Paiva said he spent most spot used by Hawaiian ingon Maunakea, That’sthebestthingyoucando.” of his time on the mountain religious practitioners. TracyMiyashiro AccordingtoMKSS,the road hunting. Out of respect for When snow falls on knowsthe access costsabout$550,000a yearto Aroadlikethe backofhishand. maintain,plusanother$125,000 the place, he said he was Maunakea, rangers are up raised not to see it as some at 3 a.m. to do their weath FromtheHalePohakumid-lev forremovingsnow.Costsare where to play or “holoholo.” er checks, Paiva said, and elfacilities,the roadsnakesits coveredbytheobservatories. “‘Ifyou didn’t have a are on the mountain before wayupthe mountain,gaining Butit’snotjusttele reason to come up here you sunrise. Once the road is morethan4,000feetinelevation scopesthatbenefit. don’t come up here,” Paiva free of snow and ice, they andcovering8.5 milesbeforeit In2016,35,571vehicleswent said his parents told him. will open it to the public. reachestheobservatoriesatop. upthe mountain,accordingto MKS “Youdon’t come up here Pickup trucks full of Abouthalfisunpaved,andit’sup Ofthat,13,396,orabout37 per to play; this isn’t a recre snow and boogie boards to Miyashiroandotherroadmain cent,belongedtoobservatorycrews ation area.You come up for as stand-ins for sleds tenanceoperatorswiththeOfficeof orpermittedtours.Therestwas some kind of business.” become a common site. MaunakeaSupportServicesto keep AlikaToledo attributedtothegeneralpublic. Making sure visitors Paiva said the rang itopen.Thatmeansgradingitseveral MaunakeaSupportServicesutilities Theutilitiesdivision,whichhe • isresponsiblefor have the least impact to the ers don’t stop people timesa weekandremovingsnow andmaintenancesupervisor worksfo also mountain is part of the job. from playing in the snow. inthewinter,onslopesthatrange maintainingabout30 vehiclesandthe While driving more But they try to warn of from10 percentto 15 percent. Wehaveto relyoneachotherto HalePohakumid-levelfacilities,where than 10,000feet above sea the dangers of sledding “It’schallenginguphere makesureeverybodyissafe.” telescopeworkerseatandsleep. level, he points off to the down the cinder cones. justdealingwiththeweath Miyashirosaidtheysee a major “ft’sdefinitelya fullplatearound left side of the road, where “Youknow how you gon er,”saidMiyashiro,ofHilo. snowstormevery10yearsorso, here,”saidAlikaToledo,utilitiesand remnants of a Hawaiian na stop? Lava rocks’ he said. Thenthere’stheloweroxygen withtheworstoccurdngin1991. maintenancesupervisor.“Wetryto adze quarry can be seen. Overall, Paiva said he levels,an issueanyoneworking Thatwaswhen14feetofsnow doas muchas wecanourselves.” The rocks, hardened by enjoys most working with onthemountainhastoface.He coveredwhat’sknownas Goodrich Oneprojectisaddingmore lava contacting glaciers people of all types and saidthealtitudedoesn’tbother Pass,notfarbelowthesummit. icedetectorsalongtheroad, during the last ice age, were backgrounds who use the himmuchanymore,thoughhe’s “Wehada 0-9 dozerpush whichwouldbe usedto update prized for tool making. mountain, from astronomers learnedit’sbestto pacehimself. ingsnow,wegottracksonit, theMaunakeaWeatherCenter Paiva said a ranger once to the many visitors with Intheirbaseyardjustabove andthethingjuststartedsliding website.Toledosaidthatwould caught people carrying adze which he interacts. The HalePohaku,sitstheonly andyouain’tstopping80,000 givethepublica bettersenseof chips out in backpacks. view also is hard to beat. snowplowsinthestate. pounds,”Miyashirosaid. conditionsbeforetheyheadup. “We reported it to “It’s beautiful up Miyashirosaidhedidsome “Youain’tstoppingthat Toledo,a Hiloresidentandfor DOCARE and they made here,” he said. “I get a snowremovalwhileinthe U.S. untilyouhitsomething.Sothat meroperatingengineer,saidhe a case’ he said, referring neat kind of inner peace Army,butnoneofthatcompares wasa learningexperience.” wouldn’twanttobeanywhereelse. to the state Department of when I’m up here.” tothe hazardsofMaunakea. itthegraderstartsslidingbecause “Iwasbornandraisedhere,’ Land and Natural Resources’ Paiva adds, “We’rehere “Safetyisa bigconcern,’he oficyconditions,hesaidthebest hesaid.“Igrewuphunting enforcement division. for everyone. Everyone who said.‘Becauseitsomethinghap thingtodoisto getina higher onthismountain.It’sdefinite “One guy dropped comes up is our guest.” penswithus it’sjustus upthere. gearsothetirescancatchup. lya specialplaceto be.” 28 Sunday,November12,2017 HawaiiTribune-Herald
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Visitors peer through a solar telescope at the Maunakea Visitor Information Station.
HOLLYNJOHNSON! Tribune-Herald
ByTOM CALLIS building, situated about Hunter said the VIS’ HawaiiTribune-Herald 9,000 feet above sea level. role remains ensuring he Maunakea “It’s become a tour the safety of visitors Gateway ist destination when and educating them the Visitor to Information Station has served that’s not what the about the mountain, as the gateway goal was,” said Janno including the cultural T Scheer, VIS manager. and natural resources. to the mountain for more than 30 years. UH’s Office of But the increasing pop It offers a place to Maunakea Support ularity of the mountain rest and get acclimat Services operates the does make that a chal ed before ascending VIS with a staff of 13 lenge, he acknowledged,. the steep, winding road full-time and part-time “We rival (Hawaii to the summit, a small workers and numerous Volcanoes National Park)” STARSretail shop, as well as volunteers. It costs about on travel sites, Hunter said. free stargazing tours $2 million a year to oper He said traffic has increased significantly VisitorInformationStationhelpspublic several nights a week. ate, with funding coming But as the popularity of from the observatories, following improvements the mountain as a tourist permitted tour operators to Saddle Road, which experience‘amazing’viewsofspace destination increases, so and retail sales, accord prompted rental car has the pressure on this ing to Stewart Hunter, humble 1,700-square-foot MKSS general manager. See GATEWAYPage 29 HawaiiTribune-Herald Sunday, November 12,2017 29 Hawaii, the most popular From page 28 items are no surprise. At GATEWAY the VIS, temperatures can companies to remove their VIS interpretive guide. be near freezing at night. restrictions from using There’s also an “amaz “Sweatshirts are our No. the cross-island route, and ing” view of the Milky 1 seller,” Scheer said. the rise of social media. Way, she said. “Then zipup shirts and In 2014, MKSS estimat Despite limitations, sweatpants. Socks have ed about 750 people a day Scheer said 98 percent of been an amazing went to the VIS, though people leave happy, which ly effective seller.” some were counted more she credits her staff. Hunter said they try to than once if they went up “I think we’re all here source local and avoid items to the summit. During the for the same purpose,” she that might look gimmicky. summer nights, stargazing said. “We like being on “(Sales) help the VIS but events can attract 450. the mountain. We like to it’s not our focus,” he said. The popular events allow provide support and ser Working on the mountain visitors to peer through some vices to the public.” is about more than just a job of its seven telescopes, which Visitors come from for Scheer. It’s also a chance range in size from 4 inches countries all over the to enjoy the peace it offers. to 16 inches. Stargazing is globe, with an increasing “For me, coming up here, a held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. number from South Korea HOLLYNJOHNSON/Tribune-Herald is more of spiritual thing for me,” she said. “Just because Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and China, Scheer said. Margaux Mellott, Maunakea Visitor Information Station and Saturday. Volunteers also That means staff have when you’re up here at 6 interpretive guide, explains the capabilities of the different o’clock on the morning, there provide talks on constella to answer questions in telescopes kept at the VISon Maunakea. tions and Hawaiian naviga multiple languages. is nothing happening ... and if tion. Parking is limited. Most commonly, they While they can’t offer the and sandwiches. For the you go up to any of the pu’us The VIS opens at noon. want to know where is the latter, Scheer said they do adventurous, there’s freeze- or you go to the summit, it’s “We look at things mil restroom. Occasionally, try to keep the VIS stocked dried ice cream called quiet and you can just breath lions of years away from they’ll get asked about to meet visitors’ needs. an “astrosandwich” and nothing else matters.” us, as far as light travels,” where the restaurant That includes a small But since most don’t pack Email Tom Catlis at tcatlis@ said Margaux Mellott, or bar is located. selection of beverages winter clothing for a trip to hawaiitribune-he raid. corn.
The 25m Mauna Kea VLBA antenna is one often composing a continent-wide array of JO radio telescopes. The VLBA provides the highest imaging angular resolution in all of astronomy and contributes to a rich spectrum of science from asteroids to black holes. ‘ 30 Sunday, November 12, 2017 Hawaii Tribune-Herald An international ‘hotel’ at 9,200 feet Warmmeals,cozyroomsawait astronomersatHalePohaku
ByTOM CALLIS food and lodging manager. “If HawaiiTribune-Herald it’s a hit, we keep the recipe.” the crews are n a state known for its diversity, Most of telescope perhaps no place is more cos from the island, so meals often Photos:HOLLYNJOHNSON)Tribune-Herald mopolitan than Hale Pohaku. skew toward local tastes. But he tries to introduce food from else Telescope workers grab dinner at Hale Pohaku. I The mid-level facilities at about the 9,200-foot elevation where on a monthly rotation that houses and feeds astronomers and visitors will find familiar. telescope workers from Hawaii “In fact, before they come, Island and across the globe. they will give me recipes if In the lobby, flags represent the they want,” Hara said. dozen or so countries that take part They will serve about 200 meals in astronomy atop Maunakea, some throughout the day, either in the of which, like China and Taiwan, cafeteria or up at the summit. aren’t on the best diplomatic terms. That starts at about 6:30 a.m. with But they come together here the first rush from telescope workers. just above the inversion layer. By the time lunch rolls around, For the facility’s cooks, that gives they will have meals ready to be deliv them a good excuse to try new things. ered atop the mountain, where they “We have all-around-the- are served in a former utility room, as food,” said Alan Hara, world See HALEPage 31
Flags of the countries working with the Maunakea telescopes line the lobby ofHalePohaku.
Telescope workers eat breakfast at Hale Pohaku. Wade Yoshizumi, cook, preps food for the telescope workers at Hale Pohaku. 12,2017 31 HawaiiTribune-Herald Sunday, November I HALEFrom page 30
well as in the Hale Pohaku cafeteria. Rob Hayes, a housekeeper and What matters most, he said, assistant cook, has worked on the is keeping their stomachs mountain for the past 10 years. full at such high altitude. He said he has to be a bit of “I’ve heard all kind of things,” a jack-of-all-trades and enjoys Hara said, regarding what food making people feel comfort is best for the summit. “I think able at the high elevation. some people, greasy food doesn’t “The first day I felt a lit affect them at all. Some say greasy tle woozy,” Hayes said, because food is not good. Some people, no of the thinner atmosphere. problem, they have no problem. “After that, I’m fine.” The main thing is their stomach Some are not so lucky. is full. If their stomach is emp “I’ve seen people walk through ty, they don’t feel too good.” the door and collapse,” Hayes Cooks will continue working said. If that happens, they are Telescope workers have the option of getting meals in a break room on the through dinner. For anyone who trained to administer oxygen. summit of Maunakea. misses a meal, they can make During his first year, he said sandwiches or a bowl of soup they saved the life of an infant in the cafeteria, Hara said. who was brought up the moun He has worked in the hotel tain by their family, who were and food industry for 19 years, on vacation from Japan. but said there’s nothing like The baby was unconscious working at Hale Pohaku. when they pulled into their The facility offers 7$ rooms, parking lot seeking help. which he described as a “comfort “We ended up saving it by able small hotel room,” as well as a putting it on oxygen,” Hayes recreation room with pooi tables. said. “There were three of us in Hara said they used to aver the kitchen. We couldn’t under- age 50 to 60 people a night, but stand what they were saying, but with telescopes switching to we knew” what was wrong. remote observing, that is down Email TomCattis at tcatlis@ between 20 and 30 most nights. hawaiitri bane-heraid. corn.
Rob Hayes, a housekeeper and assistant cook, preps food for the telescope workers in September in a break room on the summit of Maunakea.
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Alan Hara, Hale Pohaku food and lodging manager. A van is kept on Maunakea for medical emergencies. I 32 Sunday, November 12,2017 Hawaii Tribune-Herald I The telescope whisperer JohnWhite’sjob:TokeepGemini’ssophisticatedinstrumentsworking
a things,” I ByTOMCALLIS It’s ajob he said he still is limited to few Hawaii Tribune-Herald finds rewarding and chaflèng White said, noting he feels ing to this day. But he almost lucky to have a career here. o get the best pic fell into it by accident. And a lot has changed tures of the uni White, who was born in during the past three decades. verse, observatories Honokaa and raised in Waimea, He recalls using floppy need a large “light said he initially wanted to disks to store data when he T first started. Now, he can use bucket,” as astronomers be an architect. Noticing sometimes call their pri that computers were making a webcam in the control room mary mirrors, to collect as drafting obsolete, he studied in Hilo to solve problems many photons as possible. business in college instead. with workers on the summit, But they also need sophis Then he graduated and something Gemini introduced ticated instruments to take a recession hit. Nobody almost from the start in 1999. the images and collect data was hiring, he said. Working with astrono Iso they can really under White came back to Hawaii mers might not be the most stand what’s going on bil Island, where he enrolled at important job in the world, lions of light years away. Hawaii Community College he said, but it does help give That’s where people like in Hilo to study electronics. him a different perspective. John White come in. At the time, he didn’t know “If it has taught me anything, The 58-year-old Hilo res anything about it. But he fig it’s how incredibly huge the ident is the senior instrument ured that would give him a universe is,” White said. “The engineer for the Gemini foothold in another career. distances are unimaginable, Observatory atop Maunakea. He expected to return to the simply unimaginable. And to His job is to be a trouble mainland in search for work. think that we are on a little tiny shooter of sorts. It’s up to But then White landed a blue marble, as someone once him to ensure the instruments part-time job as an electrician said, amongst tens of billions of work as they should when for the Joint Astronomy Centre marbles, bright marbles, with they’re needed so that a night where he found a mentor who maybe marbles around it. And of observing doesn’t go to taught him things he was told there is nothing out there that waste. That requires him to not to worry about only a few we know of that comes close work not just with electron months before in college. to the life here on Earth.” ics, but also the cryogenics “He was using a piece of for those interested in Ithat chill the instruments equipment called a logic ana a similar field, he advised to keep out interference. lyzer’ he said. “... This is one them to keep an open mind. “Whenever you find a of the things with electron “Younever know what door solution to a problem, that’s ics class we were told don’t will open,”White said. “You always a really great feel bother, you won’t see it.” never know what opportuni ing’ said White, who has That sparked his interest, ty will pop up. If it’s inter worked for telescopes on and he has been at it ever since. esting and it interests you, HOLLYNJOHNSONITribuneHeraId Maunakea for 28 years. “Electronics here in Hawaii then you should pursue it.” John White of Gemini Observatory.
Cheers to 50 years of Exploring the Universe! Happy Anniversary UHInstitute of Astronomy — -Ik. Proudly serving our BigIsland Proudly servingHJ for over 60 years community for nearly 35 years.
Maguire Bearing Co1 LTD I 329-1341 Hilo Kona altres.com 935-4196 I ALTRE5. 855 lolanI Street1 HIlo 96720 LL Phone: 808-9614867 Fax: 808-961-5052 HawaiiTribune-Herald Sunday, November 12,2017 33
The: -‘v
-- ‘Big Bang versus Kumulipo’ ‘lmiloaAstronomyCenterstrikesuniquebalancebetweenscience,Hawaiianculture
ByTOMCALLIS came this idea to build an education cen In the last fiscal year, the facility wel HawaiiTribune-Herald ter that would have these perspectives.” comed 61,000 people, according to ‘Imiloa. place ‘Jmiloa, which “Our mission is to provide a balanced rowing up in Waimea, Ka’iu That became opened in 2006 with the mission of bringing modem perspective between astronomy and culture,” Kimura didn’t know much said Kalepa Baybayan, ‘Imiloa’s resident did astronomy and the Hawaiian culture togeth about the work astronomers navigator. “For example, the idea of how on Maunakea or about those er, and better communicating benefits of the G research on the mountain to the public. the universe came together, we have the Big who in the small community. lived Bang theory and we have the Kumulipo (a “I began it was all Sitting at the University of Hawaii think when astronomy Hawaiian creation chant). It’s shared space.” about at Hilo, the 40,000-square-foot center the research and accessing Maunakea Baybayan, a master navigator and Hokulea as the best place on Earth to study the includes three titanium cones represent uni captain, said he sees a “metaphoric rela verse from,” said Kimura, director of the ing the island’s largest mountains, easily setting it apart architecturally from other tionship” between traditional Hawaiian ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. “And I think as navigation and astronomy on Maunakea. the years moved buildings on campus. Inside, it hosts a 3-D moved on, as the decades “We are both very interest planetarium and exhibits on astronomy and on, the community became more involved, ed in celestial bodies,” he said. more concerned with what was happening Hawaiian culture, including those high on Maunakea. And out of that conversation lighting traditional Hawaiian navigation. See’IMILOAPage 34 I ___
34 Sunday, November 12,2017 Hawaii Tribune-Herald IlftIiII ‘Imiloa can still serve as I lvii IJtiA From page 33 a place for dialogue. She said she also is look Kimura, who studied “You got to understand ing to include that conflict Hawaiian language and deeply what those concepts in an exhibit that could be literature at UH-Hilo, got are, and you got to under ready by the end of 2017. involved in the discussions stand deeply how to create Kimura said it will give to form ‘Imiloa in its early that same sort of under a historical overview of stages following the new mil standing in a totally differ Maunakea from different lennium. She became deputy ent language,” she said. dimensions, including astro director after its opening and While everyone agreed nomical, natural, social-po executive director in 2010. on the mission, there was litical and management. “I saw it as an opportuni some clashing of perspectives “So this issue with TMT -‘ ty to advance our Hawaiian on how to do that. Kimura has given us the opportuni language, to advance our said that was a healthy ty, made us realize that we Hawaiian woridview,” she process to go through. need to step up to that and said. “And I thought by “In that process, I saw be this resource for the bringing that together with people who could not agree com Courtesyphoto munity to learn science, modem science, it at all, on Big Bang ver about the The ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii is located at 600 could really empower both sus Kumulipo,” she said. historical development on Imiloa Place in Hilo. science and our cultural “That the validity on either Maunakea,” she said. “That’s revitalization efforts by com one, they couldn’t agree. I Over the years, Kimura like Journey Through the one way we are respond ing together to forge new saw they were really trans said the astronomy communi Universe and Maunakea ing to the current issues.” ways of understanding.” formed through the process ty significantly has increased Scholars, and provide them ‘Imiloa is open from During the planning stag of having to work very close its engagement with the rest with cultural education. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday es, Kimura said they created ly together, explaining one of the island, creating new There is still tension and through Sunday at 600 about 200 new Hawaiian another’s perspectives very opportunities for children to conflict over use of Maunakea ‘Imiloa Place, Hilo. words to describe phenome deeply because they had to get involved and feel connect for astronomy, as seen with On the web: www. non and objects in space not create a product that was ed to the work they do. And the protests against the pro imiloahawaii.org. visible to the naked eye, such usable for the general public ‘Imiloa is often there, too, posed Thirty Meter Telescope. Email TomCatlis at tcaltis@ as black hole and nebula. walking through ‘Imiloa.” helping to support programs Kimura said she hopes hawaiitribune-heraid.corn.
PRESERVINGTHE CULTURALAND NATURALRESOURCESFOR FU7UREGENERATIONS
:
Discover ..... how fun and inspiring Hawaiian culture and science can be for ijour children. cT A Entertain .... ijour family/guests with I M IL Oii our planetarium shows. Astronomy Center of Hawai’i Celebrate ... special events with ijour TheOfficeof MaunakeaManagementhas devoted over 15yearsto steWardshipofthe University’s loved ones in our function rooms. managed lands on Maunakea. Its dedication and actions to preserve the cultural and natural resources were recognized through several awards includingthe prestigious 2017 Preservation CommendationAwardfrom HistoricHawai’iFoundationfor its “commitmentto stewardship and best practices in cultural resource understanding, protection and preservation” oriMaunakea. TheKona-KohalaChamberof Commercebestowed its 2017PualuCulturaland Heritageaward for OMKMs “impIementatim of its LongTermHistortcPropertyMonitoringPlan that specifically enhances cultural stewardship on Maunakeaand preserves our island’scultural heritage. -‘-n - OMKM was established to oversee the Maunakea Science Reserve. It works closely with the Maunakea Management Board, Kahu Ku Mauna, a council comprised of Hawaiian cultural resource persons, and the community at large. malamamaunakea.org HawaiiTribune-Herald I
HOLLYNJOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Hoku Kea director Pierre Martin takes the manual mirror cover off of the new telescope in February at University of Hawaii at Hilo. UN undergrads share telescope time with astronomers
ByTOMCALLIS UH-Hilo’s astronomy pro HawaiiTribune-Herald gram includes five tenured or ten Natural Sci,nc_ graduate degree is no ured-track professors and about 40 longer required to use students. Another 15 were in the assocIatedegree some of the best tele physics program in fall 2017. availablein UH-Manoa, which hosts the s scopes in the world. Hilo Kona AIn 2016, the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, receives and agreed to share some of its viewing between 10 percent and 15 per and prepares cent of the viewing time at time on the Maunakea telescopes you to transfer with undergraduate students in Hilo. telescopes on Maunakea. Pierre Martin, astronomy asso Through the program, up to to bachelor’sdegree 16 nights a year will eventual ciate professor at UH-Hilo, said in STEMprograms. an email that the program started in ly go to UH-Hilo faculty and February 2017, noting it is working students, with six nights a year well except for some lost time due during the first five years. to bad weather on the mountain. Martin said UH-Hilo’s focus Research proposals are submitted is on observational astronomy. by UH-Hilo faculty members but they The undergraduate program include an educational component. has seen some setbacks. “To my knowledge, no oth The site of its Hoku Kea teach er undergraduate program has ing telescope has been selected for access to such a large panopiy decommissioning. As of October of observatories,” Martin said. 2017, UH-Hilo was still searching “The opportunities to conduct for a new site for a replacement research here and learn about 2$-inch telescope and dome. modem techniques of astrono Email Tom Catlis at tcattis@ my are rather amazing, really.” hawaiitri bune-he raid. corn. 1 _____
36 Sunday, November 12,2017 HawaiiTribune-Herald
HAWAIIASTRONOMYDISCOVERIESANDTECHNOLOGICALADVANCEMENTS Relics of our Solar System Laser Adaptive Optics Developed Discovered on Maunakea on Maunakea
The Kuiper Belt was discovered in 1992 and observations from the UH88” were In2003 Keckreleased for use an critical to this accomplishment. This ambitious laser adaptive optics region of our solar system, which system that has overthe years extends from roughly the orbit of developed into the most Neptune to about 50 times the earth- sun distance, contains an enormous scientificallyproductive laser A0 number of small icy bodies thought to program inthe world.Keckhelped be remnants from the formation of our pioneered laser AOfor astronomy, solar system. Plutois a member of the providingsome ofthe highest Afirst light image recorded Kuiper belt, which sources many of the resolution images of celestial period ê short comets that traverse the objects ever recorded. above is an edge-on proto inner solar system and we see from planetary nebula, with dust earth. Kuiper Belt Objects forming the dark band. Facility Class Adaptive Optics Arrives First on Maunakea
1997yieldedthe first image ofthe GalacticCenterwith facility class adaptiveoptics (fromCFHT)seen hereat near infraredwavelengths. Theincreaseinresolutionis stunningand diffraction • ringsadornstars, an ‘ indicationthat the imageis ‘a approachingitstheoretical • a maximumresolution. It
Large Telescopes Meet Large Cameras atSuharu
In2000 Subaru ushered inthe era of wide field Imagingwith a large • format telescope using Suprime Cam.Afirst and a feat that has not The new Hypi been repeated since. This capability Sttprttue C.jni’tj stems from Subaru being the only 8 Iec is the —10m class telescope in the world only large format that supports a prime focus CJIUCF,1 Ofl 8-10 m class Instrument complement. Today the telescope mammoth Hyper Suprime Camera is used regularly, offering 1.5deg wide fields of viewusing 870 million pixels in its digital focal plane. HawaiiTribune-Herald Sunday, November 12,2077 37
HAWAIIASTRONOMYDISCOVERIESANDTECHNOLOGICALADVANCEMENTS
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Mars r Methane = Life? The First Image of an Exoplanetary System was from Maunakea
In2008 astronomers announced the In2005 observations made bythe discovery of an entire exoplanetary NASAIRTFon Maunakea(and later system around the star HR8799. The confirmedat KeckObservatory) white dots surrounding the host star. provedthat methane is being imaged by Geminiand Keck,were replenishedinthe abnosphereof ‘ unprecedented and willbe reproduced Top — the first image ot an Mats Thesource of this gas whichis in astronomy text books throughout chemicallyvolatileand breaks down the 21st century. These images are a Bottom — an artist’s concept of how easily,remains unknownbut the two testament to the exquisite observing HR8799 might look up close. most likelysources are either geologic Amapshowingthe distribution of conditions on Maunakeaand the or biologicprocesses. Onearth, methane in the atmosphere of Mars. technologies used at the Maunakea microbesproduce largeamounts of Observatories methane and this discoveryopens the possibilityof similarbiologicalactMty on Mars. 38 Sunday, November 72,2017 Hawaii Tribune-Herald
HAWAIIASTRONOMYDISCOVERIESANDTECHNOLOGICALADVANCEMENTS
A“Second Jupiter” Is Discovered A New Class of Distant and ?revio . wisible Galaxy Discovered In 2013 the lowest mass exoplanet ever directly imaged was detected In 1998 JCMTs instrument SCUBAwas by Subaru Telescope. This planet able to take fulladvantage of the e ‘4 (GJ 504b) which has a mass extraordinary conditions on Maunakea to comparable to that of Jupiter was conduct observations at microwave /4 , , detectedthroughtheuseof ‘- frequencies to detect ultra-luminous dusty V innovative coronagraphic imaging galaxies, a previously undetected class of
and adaptive optics at Subaru distant galaxies. These objects emit . Directimagingallows direct copious amounts of radiation but are so . measurements of planetary orbits, Direct Imaging of exoplanets yields a heavily enshrouded in dust that they are masses, and luminosities. Gi 504b wealth of information about these rendered invisible except at far infrared Bright knots in this ultra deep is further from its host star than objects, including a direct measurement and radio wavelengths. They are so bright microwave image of the distant of their masses. These images from Neptune is from our sun and at radio wavelengths that they emit as universe are never before Subaru Telescope are of an exoplanet - detected incredibly luminous challenges models of planet with a mass comparable to Jupiter’s — a much radio energy as all optical light in the galaxies. They are so heavily formation, which do not easily first in astronomy. early universe. This discovery challenged enshrouded in dust that they theories on star formation in the early are not detected at optical or explain how Jupiter-like planets can infrared wavelengths. form so far from their host stars. universe, I Where Did the Elements Come From?
Understanding the origin of matter provides incredible insight into physical processes that make life and the world we know possible. One such mystery was substantially solved by Subaru ‘,. . Telescope in 2015 when observations of Nova Delphini 2013 showed large .- amounts of lithium being produced by ‘A nuclear reactions in the immediate - aftermath of this explosion. The third lightest element, with only trace Famounts produced during the Big Bang and other mechanisms, lithium’s production has been the subject of from a star spiraling onto a astronomical research for decades. nearby white dwarf overtime Thanks to observations made at Subaru, accumulates enough to trigger we have a much better understanding of an explosion. This process can where the element that powers modem repeat many times in such batteries, computers, cell phones, etc. systems. comes from. A New Technique to Ma Location Dark Hawaii Astronomy — A Legacy of Pushing Further Back in Space and Time Matter Across the Universe Nearly O years later HubbleSpace Telescope recorded this image In 1986 the first image of a “strong” In 2015 the most distant galaxy ever gravitational lens was recorded at CEHT. detected (named EGS8p7) was The mysterious arc of light was at first confirmed via observations made at misinterpreted but eventually correctly Keck observatory. The universe was .. shown to be the result of a powerful = only about 600 million years old N field by dark matter when this galaxy formed. N. gravitational created Modern What cosmology predicts that the universe in the midst of a galaxy cluster. important is - was filled with atomic hydrogen in makes this that this using that period, which would absorb the observation paved the way to ultraviolet radiation from stars. gravitational “lensing” to map the ,. Surprisingly an ultraviolet emission distribution of the dominant form of . line was detected at Keck from this matter across the universe — dark matter. incredibly distant object, leading to •, •q* of conditions in CFHT’s 1986 image of Abell 370’s reconsideration the powerful gravitational lens heralds the early universe. the beginning of mapping dark matter across the entire universe. - HawaiiTribune-Herald Sunday,November12,2017 39 Mahalo, Maunakea oroverathousand meas an astronomerinthe Thetallestmountain astronomershavemadesome ridethatwaveoflife. Thinkofit:Ina centuryor years,Maunakeawas 21stcenturywhohasspent on Earth,andthesecond ofthe moststartlingdiscov Oneofthosestoriesis two,ourspeciesmayreach treasuredas a beacon mostofmylifeinthegraces largestshieldvolcanoin eriesinhistory,includinga abouthighschoolstudents outtotouchlifeona distant Fto guidefearlesssea ofMaunakea’sshadow. ourentiresolarsystem, behemothblackholelurking fromHonokaawhoare world,namedbya childin farersintosaferefuge.They Today’sastronomydepicts Maunakeaisarguablythe inthe heartofourMilkyWay amongthefirstteenagers schoolnow,inourmidst,in werethebestastronomers a genesisofallthingsthat bestsiteonourplanetfor galaxy,andtheexistenceof intheworldto usethe most Hawaii.It’snotthatfar-fetched. oftheirage,ableto pinpoint startedina BigBang,which observingthe cosmos. the greatestformofenergyin powerfultelescopesinthe Thestorythatbegan theirlocationona spinning emergedfroman infinitevac Surroundedbya fiat the universe— so-calledDark worldto probetheirchosen a thousandyearsagoby sphere,orbitinga distantsun, uum— a vastsea ofinfinite oceansurfaceonallsidesfor Energy— thatpervadesall pieceofdistantspace. braveseafarerswhorelied usingthestarsvisibleat night darkness.Thisintersectionof thousandsofmiles,the placid space,includingthatbetween Theyareamongthe uponMaunakeato signal andconnectionstothewind, origins— inwhatHawaiians topographyofMaunakea the moleculesinourbodies. firstofmanyopiothat,with home,continuestodayas currentsandsignsofthesea believedforcenturiesand minimizesturbulenceinthe Maunakeaisa keyto unlock powerfultimemachinesat wesearchfordistantislands to navigatea vastocean. wehavediscoveredusing airthatisgentlyblownupand ingthe mystetiesofourexis theirfingertips,willexplore afloatinspacewiththe Onceashore,Maunakea sophisticatedtechniquesfrom overitssummit,leadingto tence.Itisa sacredandtime ancientspaceandconnect goalofimprovingthelives wasreveredas a sourceof 4 Maunakeaandbeyond— is exquisiteclarityinourviewsot lessplaceofpeace,reverence, thatto modernspace.Inthe offuturegenerations. waterandfoodneededto perhapsthe intersection distantnebulaeandgalaxies. knowledgeandguidance. nearfuture,youngMaunakea Thismulti-generation sustainthousandsofpeople. ofourcollectivefuture. FromMaunakea,wesee Weallridea waveoflife Scholarswillparticipatein cascadeofdiscoveriesis Maunakeawasa giveroflife Tonight,the mostpowerful ouroriginsreflectedinthe thatcrestsinourtime.Forthe a fantasticsearchfornear ourlegacyinHawaii.When itself.Thismajesticmountain collectionoftelescopesinthe nightskyabove.Theunique Hawaiiansthatcamebefore byterrestrialclassplanets Maunakeawasdiscoveredby wasalsoreveredas a portal worldwillharvestancientlight attributesofMaunakea,includ us,andthe generationsthat that,oncediscovered,they thefirstHawaiianscenturies toWakea(skyfather)and fromdistantreachesofour ingsomeofthe darkestskies willfollow,Maunakeahelps willnameforposterity. ago,itwasn’tthe endofa Papahanaumokuwhobrought universeto answerancient anywhereanditshighaltitude, sustainthatwaveoflife. Thesemaybe among voyage.Itwasthe beginningof forthallthingsftompo,a questions.Theyarepartof leavingmostwatervaportar Thisspecialsectionof the planetsthata future an incrediblejourneythatwe vastsea ofemptydarkness. an epicquestto unravelthe below,makeita treasurefor theTribune-Heraldcele generationwillsendthefirst arejuststartingto recognize. Capturedinthe Kumulipoor natureandgenesisofall studyingthe universe,and bratessomeofthe many interstellarprobes,inthe — DougSimons, creationstory,thisgenesis matter,energyandlifeinthe forstudyingourselves.From storiesofthe Maunakea searchforlifebeyondthe on behalfofthe oflifehasalwaysinttigued realmwecallthe universe. thatvantagepoint,today’s Observatoriesas theytoo confinesofislandearth. MaunakeaObservatories.
.‘--. Big Island Teats, Inc. (808) 885-3534 • blgislandtents.com I Over the past half century, the Maunakea Observatories have created well over a thousand green high-tech jobs, provided education opportunities for tens of thousands of students, and sourced well over a billion dollars in investment in Hawai’i. To our neighbors, friends, families, colleagues, and partners in this journey, mahalo nui ba for making all of this possible.
MAUNAKEA DBSERVATDRIES