Undergraduate students at the will soon have access to the Maunakea telescopes, an amazing opportunity to work with the world’s premiere telescopes located on the world’s best site for astronomy.
The 东精影业 Mānoa (IfA) operates the 东精影业 2.2 Meter Telescope, and 东精影业 scientists receive a set amount of observing time on nine of the other 10 telescopes. IfA manages the allocation of the observing time on behalf of all 东精影业 astronomers, and now under a recent agreement between IfA and the 东精影业 Hilo , Hilo students will receive a guaranteed share of this time.
“This agreement is the result of hard work and close collaboration between 东精影业 Hilo and 东精影业 Mānoa astronomers,” said 东精影业 Hilo Physics and Astronomy Department Chair Marianne Takamiya. “It opens the unique possibility for 东精影业 Hilo astronomy majors to learn how to use the largest and most powerful telescopes in the world.”
东精影业 Hilo’s use of the telescopes will be increased over a ten year period, receiving 6 nights a year for the first five years, 10 nights a year for the second five years and then 16 nights every year thereafter.
“We will now be offering a program quite unique, where students can learn astronomical techniques and scientific research using an ensemble of small and medium aperture telescopes and the formidable facilities on Maunakea,” said Pierre Martin, the 东精影业 Hilo astronomy and observatory director. “A stronger astronomy program at 东精影业 Hilo also means more educational opportunities for the local communities and keiki, a prominent core value of our mission.”
Collaboration provides the world’s best training opportunities
In addition to allotting time with the telescopes, the agreement seeks to improve the integration of 东精影业 Hilo’s physics and astronomy department with the Hilo branch of the IfA. Faculty from both campuses will continue efforts to provide hands-on experiences with observational astronomy techniques and instrumentation for undergraduate and graduate students.
All of these developments are part of an expanding collaboration between the undergraduate astronomy programs at Hilo and Mānoa. The goal is to provide the world’s best astronomy research and training opportunities for all 东精影业 undergraduates.
“The long-term future of astronomy in Hawaiʻi depends on strong local and international recognition of astronomy in Hilo,” said IfA Director . “With this agreement, we set the stage for the education of the next generation of leaders in astronomy.”