The University of Hawaiʻi welcomed about 50 international diplomats to Maunakea and the 东精影业 Hilo for a firsthand look at the university鈥檚 leading role in world-class astronomy, scientific discoveries and cultural stewardship that have helped make Hawaiʻi a global center for space research.

The visit, coordinated through the U.S. Department of Defense鈥檚 annual Defense Attach茅 Orientation Program, brought diplomats to Maunakea where they learned how 东精影业 researchers and international partners are helping drive some of the world鈥檚 most important astronomical discoveries, from distant exoplanets and mysterious brown dwarfs to black holes, advanced robotic optics technology and some of the farthest known objects in the universe.

“Maunakea has become a model for how nations can work together in the pursuit of knowledge,” said Doug Simons, director of the 东精影业 . “The discoveries made here belong to all humanity.”

Summit science, stewardship

Atop the summit of Maunakea, teams from the such as W. M. Keck Observatory, Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope, Subaru Telescope and 东精影业鈥檚 NASA Infrared Telescope Facility guided diplomats through observatory facilities. Hawaiʻi astronomy consistently ranks number one in the world in science impact and output.

At Halep艒haku, located within Maunakea鈥檚 mid-level elevation, the group was welcomed with oli (chant) and cultural protocol led by staff from the 东精影业 Hilo (CMS). The welcome offered diplomats an introduction to the cultural significance of the mauna (mountain) before continuing their visit.

Staff also shared the mountain鈥檚 environmental and cultural significance, restoration projects and ongoing stewardship work. Diplomats learned about 东精影业鈥檚 continued efforts to responsibly decommission telescopes as part of its long-term stewardship commitments.

“Our responsibility is to care for this mauna thoughtfully and respectfully,” said Greg Chun, executive director of CMS. “Stewardship guides every part of the work happening on Maunakea, from protecting natural and cultural resources to supporting world-class science.”

Cultural connections

The visit also included a stop at ʻImiloa, where diplomats were welcomed with Hawaiian chant and lei. Staff and students led them through an engaging exploration of Polynesian wayfinding and navigation. Hands-on activities including traditional knot tying and an exploration of Hawaiian canoe, or waʻa.

For many in the group, it was their first encounter with the tradition of Polynesian navigation and the recognition of Hawaiians as among the world’s early astronomers, a story that clearly resonated as guests lingered over exhibits and engaged in lively conversation with staff.

“This is a place where Hawaiʻi’s culture and international scientific perspectives come together in ways that deepen and strengthen one another,” said Kaʻiu Kimura, executive director of 东精影业 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 ʻImiloa Center. “We wanted our guests to understand the profound cultural significance of Maunakea and the shared responsibility that comes with caring for a place of such importance.”

Astronomers at the University of Hawaiʻi have precisely measured the age of a nearby Sun-like star and its unusual companion, known as a brown dwarf, an object that falls between a planet and a star. The discovery offers new clues into how brown dwarfs grow and change over time.

Using the on Maunakea, the team from the 东精影业 (IfA) studied the HR 7672 system, composed of a Sun-like star and a faint brown dwarf companion. With an instrument called the Keck Planet Finder, they tracked tiny five-minute pulsationss in the star鈥檚 light and used them to estimate its age to be about 2.3 billion years. The study has been recently published in .

Because the brown dwarf formed at the same time as the star, the star鈥檚 age also reveals the companion鈥檚 age, giving researchers a rare chance to check if their models of how brown dwarfs cool throughout time are correct.

“This is like finally having a reliable clock for an object we鈥檝e been trying to understand for years,” said IfA Parrent Fellow Yaguang Li, who led the study. “It really helps us place evolutionary models under stringent tests and determine which physical ingredients are correct.”

Shaping discovery

For more than two decades, the HR 7672 system has helped shape how astronomers study brown dwarfs. Its companion, HR 7672B, was discovered in 2002 and was one of the first brown dwarfs ever directly imaged around a Sun-like star using adaptive optics (AO), a technology that sharpens images blurred by Earth鈥檚 atmosphere. Those early observations helped reveal how rare brown dwarfs are around Sun-like stars at close orbital distances.

Brown dwarfs do not sustain the same energy-producing reactions as stars. Instead, they slowly cool and fade over time. But testing how that happens has been difficult, in part because scientists rarely know their exact ages.

With this new measurement, paired with what is already known about the object鈥檚 energy output and mass, HR 7672B now stands out as a key reference point. The team compared their findings with several models and found the closest match with newer theories that better describe what鈥檚 happening inside these objects.

Full circle

The work highlights the long impact of the at IfA. More than 20 years ago, then-fellow Michael Liu discovered HR 7672B using Keck AO. Today, Li, the current Parrent Fellow, is building on that work with this new high-precision age-dating of the same system.

“HR 7672B was one of the first discoveries I made as a Parrent Fellow when I came to 东精影业,” said Liu, IfA faculty member and co-author of the study. “It鈥檚 exciting to see new work from another Parrent Fellow make this object even more valuable for understanding how brown dwarfs evolve.”

Astronomers using the have taken a major step in understanding the distant planet Uranus. By combining data from Keck Observatory with the Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope, researchers created the first complete picture of how light reflects off Uranus鈥檚 faint outer rings.

The results reveal two very different stories. One ring appears to be made of tiny grains of water ice, likely chipped off a small moon. The other is darker and rocky, mixed with carbon-rich material. Together, they show how collisions and impacts continue to shape the planet鈥檚 ring system.

The findings offer new clues about how planets and their moons form and change throughout time.

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An astronomer at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is using data from the (CFHT) on Maunakea to help reconstruct a slow-motion cosmic collision, one that has been unfolding for hundreds of millions of years.

A new study from principal investigator R. Pierre Martin, a professor of at 东精影业 Hilo, and international researchers such as PhD student Camille Poitras and colleagues at Universit茅 Laval in Qu茅bec, Canada, simulates the past, present and future of two spiral galaxies, NGC 2207 and IC 2163. The findings were recently published in .

The team used a one-of-a-kind instrument on CFHT called , which can capture incredibly detailed views of entire galaxies all at once.

“Understanding what’s happening during these collisions is fundamental to our knowledge of galaxy evolution in general,” said Martin. “Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, has been through multiple interactions during its lifetime, with one of them having likely triggered the formation of our Sun, about 5 billion years ago.”

Collision timeline

The interaction began about 440 million years ago. Since then, the galaxies have slammed together, pulled apart and reconnected multiple times. Throughout time, they are expected to merge into a single system, their original structures no longer recognizable.

To trace that evolution, the team ran hundreds of simulations, mapping gas movement, star birth, supernovae explosions, chemical enrichment and structural changes across more than 600 million years.

The study shows how these encounters reshape galaxies such as mixing elements, triggering new star formation and influencing how planetary systems could emerge.

Pierre is quick to highlight that Poitras, the study鈥檚 lead author, was responsible for most of the work encapsulated in the paper. For Poitras, who began the work as an undergraduate, the project highlights the value of early research experience. That same hands-on approach is central at 东精影业 Hilo.

Hands-on learning

“Telescope and lab time have become a central pillar of 东精影业 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 astronomy program,” Martin said. “Even if you鈥檝e never used a telescope before in your life, for the four years you have here, it鈥檚 all about hands-on experience.”

Every astronomy course includes lab work, often connecting students directly with observatories on Maunakea. Since 2017, all telescope proposals submitted through the 东精影业 Hilo telescope time allocation process must include undergraduate researchers.

For more go to the .

Hundreds of Hawaiʻi Island kids and families gathered at the on January 24, to celebrate the legacy of Kona-born astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy 40 years ago.

“We鈥檙e trying to continue his legacy. He inspired a lot of people, and he wanted to encourage the youngsters to work hard, study hard, and never give up on their dreams,” said Ellison鈥檚 younger brother, Claude Onizuka, who worked to bring the event back to Hawaiʻi Island after a five-year hiatus.

Organized by the (PISCES) in partnership with 东精影业 Hilo, the Onizuka Memorial Committee, Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope and the Hawaiʻi Science and Technology Museum, the day marked a return for the beloved community tradition, paused since the pandemic.

The event featured a keynote by NASA astronaut Donald R. Pettit, whose appearance was funded by American Savings Bank. Pettit, who has spent 590 days in space and is part of the team preparing for the Artemis II mission, challenged young attendees.

“I want them to think, ‘Wow, flying into space, it鈥檚 exploration, it鈥檚 tough, it鈥檚 difficult, but it鈥檚 something I want to do!’ and I hope everyone of these students [will] come and arm wrestle me for my job!”

Approximately 350 attendees participated in hands-on workshops from building volcanoes to learning traditional Polynesian canoe lashing. Interactive exhibits featured liquid nitrogen demos, Maunakea Observatory displays, and a state-qualifying VEX IQ Robotics tournament hosted by Wai膩kea Intermediate School.

Ellison Onizuka was the first Asian American and first person of Japanese ancestry to reach space when he completed the Space Shuttle Discovery mission in 1985. He remains the only NASA astronaut from Hawaiʻi.

AstroDay West 2025 brought a wave of excitement to Kona Commons as crowds gathered around science booths, telescopes and live demonstrations. The University of Hawaiʻi (IfA) joined partners across the island to offer a day of engaging ways to explore the universe at the annual event hosted by .

The day-long celebration offered family-friendly learning, free giveaways and simple science experiments designed to spark curiosity. Organizers said the goal was to make astronomy feel approachable for everyone.

“We were excited to provide keiki and families with the opportunity to learn more about science and astronomy right here in Kona,” said Carolyn Kaichi, education and outreach specialist at IfA. “Through hands-on learning and key partnerships with organizations across the island, we hoped to inspire the next generation of local science and technology leaders.”

Sun, sky and science

Visitors lined up to use a special solar telescope to safely view details on the sun鈥檚 surface. Nearby booths showed how stars form, how weather shapes our islands and how scientists observe the sky from Hawaiʻi鈥檚 mountaintops. IfA staff and students answered questions, guided activities and shared stories about their work.

AstroDay has long been a staple for families interested in science with a mission to strengthen public understanding of astronomy and create more opportunities for learning.

The event also featured displays and expertise from a wide range of partners, such as Las Cumbres Observatory, W. M. Keck Observatory, Gemini Observatory, Subaru Telescope, Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope, TMT International Observatory, NASA Solar System Ambassadors and the 东精影业 Hilo .

A new chapter in automated astronomy has begun on Maunakea. The University of Hawaiʻi (IfA) has launched initial science operations for , a robotic laser adaptive optics system now operating at the . The milestone marks a major leap in how astronomers observe the night sky.

Robo-AO-2 is designed to correct the blur caused by Earth鈥檚 atmosphere, sharpening images of hundreds of objects each night with minimal human oversight. The system is led by astronomer Christoph Baranec, who has spent years advancing adaptive optics technology at IfA.

“Making Robo-AO-2 operational represents years of dedicated engineering and innovation,” said Baranec, a member of IfA鈥檚 robotic adaptive optics program. “This system demonstrates how University of Hawaiʻi facilities continue to pioneer technologies that eventually make their way to the world’s largest telescopes and space missions.”

Hunting for habitable worlds

One of the first researchers to use the system is graduate student Guillaume Huber. He is conducting observations for NASA鈥檚 future , which will search for signs of life on planets around nearby stars. Huber is vetting a catalog of nearby stars that could host Earth-like planets.

“The Habitable Worlds Observatory will search for signs of life on planets orbiting other stars, but first we need to ensure those target stars don鈥檛 have close stellar companions,” Huber said. “Robo-AO-2鈥檚 ability to rapidly survey hundreds of targets makes it uniquely suited for this preparatory work.”

Advancing automation

New funding is driving the system even further. This year, the National Science Foundation and the Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation awarded $679,075 to fully automate Robo-AO-2. The NSF award will also support testing a new adaptive secondary mirror for the 东精影业 2.2-meter telescope, led by IfA astronomer Mark Chun. This technology could significantly improve image quality for future ground-based observatories.

“The adaptive secondary mirror will allow us to correct atmospheric turbulence directly at the telescope鈥檚 secondary mirror,” Baranec said. “Robo-AO-2 will play a crucial role in testing and validating this technology.”

Training the next generation

For IfA, the project is also about training. Students gain rare hands-on experience with real instruments at the university鈥檚 own facilities. The 东精影业 2.2-meter telescope serves as a crucial testbed where new instruments and techniques can be developed before deployment on larger facilities.

“Students are not just operating instruments鈥攖hey鈥檙e helping to build and improve them,” Baranec said. “Those skills are invaluable for careers in astronomy and engineering.”

Scientists using the on Maunakea have discovered a new celestial object that could provide groundbreaking insight into the earliest days of our Solar System. The object, officially named 2023 KQ14 and nicknamed “Ammonite” by the research team, is believed to be a preserved relic or “fossil” from the Solar System鈥檚 infancy.

The discovery recently published in is part of the FOSSIL project (Formation of the Outer Solar System: An Icy Legacy), an international effort led by researchers in Japan and Taiwan. Using Subaru Telescope鈥檚 powerful wide-field Hyper Suprime-Cam, the team identified Ammonite in a distant, stable orbit far beyond Neptune, an area that has remained largely untouched since the Solar System鈥檚 formation more than 4.5 billion years ago.

“This find pushes the boundaries of what we know about the outer Solar System,” said Fumi Yoshida, principal investigator of the FOSSIL project. “Ammonite鈥檚 orbit and location suggest something extraordinary occurred in our cosmic past, and we鈥檙e just beginning to piece the story together.”

Unusual orbit confirmed

Follow-up observations using the (CFHT) on Maunakea, confirmed the object鈥檚 unusual orbit. Archival data from telescopes in Chile and Arizona helped track Ammonite鈥檚 motion across nearly two decades, revealing a remarkably stable path that makes it distinct from other known distant objects.

According to researchers, what makes this discovery especially exciting is its implications for the still-unproven Planet Nine theory which is a hypothesized large planet far beyond Pluto. Ammonite鈥檚 differing orbit challenges existing models and may force scientists to rethink their understanding of the Solar System鈥檚 outermost reaches.

“This kind of discovery shows just how important Hawaiʻi鈥檚 telescopes are to global science,” said Kumiko Usuda-Sato, outreach specialist at Subaru Telescope. “We mahalo the community for allowing us to continue exploring the cosmos from Maunakea, a place of deep cultural and natural significance.”

Ammonite is part of a rare group of celestial bodies known as Sedna-like objects鈥攄istant icy worlds with orbits that carry them far beyond Neptune. These objects are defined by their extremely distant perihelion, or closest point to the Sun. Until now, only three such objects had been identified.

The University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) is officially initiating the decommissioning process for the 东精影业-owned UKIRT telescope on Maunakea, formerly known as the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope. This marks another important milestone in 东精影业鈥檚 long-term commitment to responsible stewardship of the mauna.

UKIRT will be the third Maunakea observatory to be decommissioned under 东精影业鈥檚 Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan, following Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) and 东精影业 Hilo H艒k奴 Keʻa Observatory, both completed in 2024.

“I am glad to see us making progress on our commitment to decommission another facility on the mauna,” said 东精影业 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin. “Just as importantly, we do this work with the full awareness of the cultural and environmental significance of this place.”

The UKIRT decommissioning will be done in close coordination with 东精影业 Hilo (CMS). As with the CSO and H艒k奴 Keʻa projects, CMS will consult with the and engage the Hawaiʻi Island community throughout the process.

“This is a deeply meaningful process for 东精影业 and the broader community,” said Greg Chun, executive director of CMS. “Decommissioning is more than physical removal, it鈥檚 about honoring our commitments, restoring the ʻ膩ina (land), and engaging with cultural and community voices every step of the way.”

The process will begin with the submission of a Notice of Intent to decommission followed by a request for proposals. The selected company will be required to coordinate closely with CMS and follow the . On-site work to remove the telescope will begin once the planning, permitting and consultation processes are complete.

The CSO and H艒k奴 Keʻa decommissionings set a precedent for enhancing the cultural sensitivity of those working on large construction projects on the mauna. Crews underwent cultural training, and Native Hawaiian protocol was carefully integrated into each stage of the process, from deconstruction to restoration.

“Earlier this year, I had the privilege of visiting the mauna and witnessing the outstanding work CMS has done to successfully oversee the decommissioning of the first two observatories,” said 东精影业 President Wendy Hensel. “What strikes me most is the CMS team鈥檚 deep sense of responsibility to carrying out 东精影业鈥檚 commitments and ensuring this process is conducted responsibly, with great care and respect for this special place.”

UKIRT鈥檚 storied history

The UKIRT Observatory began operations in 1979 and was originally built and operated by the United Kingdom鈥檚 science agencies. Over the decades, it has contributed to significant scientific advancements and helped establish Hawaiʻi as a global center for astronomical research. UKIRT is especially known for extending infrared survey imaging to unprecedented depths and coverage.

In 2014, ownership of the observatory was transferred to IfA after the UK ended its funding for the facility. In recent years, the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) became the principal sponsor of UKIRT operations, enabling an all-sky infrared survey that has supported a wide range of astrophysical research and enhanced the Celestial Reference Frame, a critical system used for global positional measurements, including GPS.

“It was decided that the decommissioning process would begin once the all-sky survey is complete,” said Doug Simons, director at IfA. “I am deeply grateful for the USNO鈥檚 support in recent years. Right up to the end, UKIRT remained highly productive and will leave a lasting scientific legacy.”

UKIRT will continue its scientific work during the initial stages of the decommissioning process, including the required environment studies, permits, and community consultations needed before site work can begin.

Severe budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration to NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are raising major concerns within Hawaiʻi鈥檚 astronomy community. Aside from the potential loss of federal funding for the Thirty Meter Telescope, funding reductions could also have wide-ranging implications for the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 (IfA), its research and its students. IfA is a globally renowned research center and home to one of the world鈥檚 largest university-based astronomy programs, with observatories on Maunakea and Haleakal膩 that have helped make some of the most remarkable cosmic discoveries ranging from exoplanets to distant galactic phenomena.

东精影业 News sat down with IfA Director Doug Simons to discuss how the proposed cuts may affect Hawaiʻi鈥檚 standing in the global astronomy community.

What鈥檚 at stake moving forward?

Simons: The proposed fiscal year 2026 budgets at NASA and NSF have been cut severely and pretty much uniformly. Almost half of the Science Mission Directorate鈥檚 budget at NASA has been cut, and a comparable 50% or so has been cut at NSF. So for astronomy here in Hawaiʻi, there are a number of facilities that are directly impacted, including 17% cut from the W.M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea and 39% cut in the U.S. portion of the Gemini International observatory. We’re also looking at the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) no longer being funded through the construction queue at NSF as part of this whole process.

What impact could these cuts have on grad students and research efforts at IfA?

Simons: Yes, a large fraction of our graduate program is sponsored by NASA and NSF, so our education program is definitely put at risk by these proposed cuts. The related threat of reduced numbers of observatories means that our research program at IfA is also at risk. It鈥檚 important to realize that a large fraction of observing time at IfA goes to our graduate students and programs involving undergraduates, giving them unique research opportunities compared to most other astronomy graduate programs. So again, I have a lot of concern near and long term about the impacts of these cuts to our research and education program, and associated knock-on effects.

What would the cuts mean for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) on Haleakal膩, and its role in training 东精影业 astronomy students?

Simons: I’m very concerned about DKIST. They also have a proposed 40% cut, and that’s a brand new, $350+ million state-of-the-art solar telescope, the best ever built, that鈥檚 just out of the “starting blocks.” I honestly don’t know what problem is solved by massive cuts to a brand new observatory like DKIST.

Would you say Hawaiʻi is a global leader in astronomy?

Simons: Hawaiʻi astronomy is number one in the world in terms of science output, and that is absolutely at risk with deep cuts proposed in the NASA and NSF programs. Much of the U.S. northern hemisphere ground based astronomy program is in Hawaiʻi, so those cuts go right to the core of U.S. astronomy research. There are also proposed cuts in Federal research facilities in Chile, so the net effect, if we do not turn this around, will be widespread and lasting. It takes a long time to design, build, fund and operate these observatories and a large part of 21st century astronomy leadership will likely go to Europe/Asia, where budgets for astronomy research remain supportive.

If these cuts move forward, what impact could it have on Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economy, considering astronomy provides local jobs and brings in significant funding?

Simons: The latest (2019) estimate is astronomy provides about $220 million of economic impact statewide, with about half of that on Hawaiʻi Island. Nearly 600 people are employed by the Maunakea Observatories, making Maunakea astronomy one of the largest providers of good-paying STEM jobs on the island. The combined operating budgets for the Maunakea Observatories is $70 million – $80 million annually, with most of those funds being directly injected into the local economy through the salaries of observatory staff. More than $2 million is invested annually by the Maunakea Observatories in education and outreach programs across Hawaiʻi Island. Over a hundred companies help support Hawaiʻi observatories, diversifying economic benefits across a wide range of contractors and professionals. The total number of people directly employed by astronomy is closer to 1,000 including Maui and Oʻahu, where similar economic “multipliers” occur.

东精影业-operated telescopes in partnership with NASA play a leading role in spotting potentially dangerous asteroids. What does the funding picture currently look like for 东精影业鈥檚 planetary defense work?

Simons: I was relieved to see that NASA retained its planetary defense program as a high priority. For IfA, that secures the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Maunakea, PanSTARRS, which includes a pair of telescopes on Haleakal膩, and ATLAS. There are now five ATLAS telescopes worldwide, which basically serve as the last stand, if you will, for detecting potential earth impactors. That’s a total of eight telescopes IfA owns/operates that could have been lost had NASA decided that the planetary defense program was not a priority. I’m pleased to say that amongst everything else going on, that survived.

How do you feel about the direction these proposed cuts are taking, especially given your decades of experience in Hawaiʻi astronomy?

Simons: It is extremely disappointing, particularly because I’ve watched the evolution of Hawaiʻi astronomy throughout most of my career, and the net effect of these recent decisions, which again are completely self-inflicted, is to diminish our ability to answer some of the most fundamental questions in science. It doesn’t have to be that way. We are decisions away from being able to stop this, but if we don’t, we’re looking at widespread damage to long-standing investments of broad state, national and international benefit.

A team at the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Institute for Astronomy (IfA) has uncovered a dazzling new kind of cosmic explosion, more energetic than anything seen before. The team named these rare events “extreme nuclear transients” (ENTs), which occur when massive stars—at least three times the mass of our Sun—are shredded by supermassive black holes. The team’s findings were recently published in .

“We鈥檝e observed stars getting ripped apart as tidal disruption events for over a decade, but these ENTs are different beasts, reaching brightnesses nearly 10 times greater than what we typically see,” said Jason Hinkle, who led the study as the final piece of his doctoral research at IfA. “Not only are ENTs far brighter than normal tidal disruption events, but they remain luminous for years, far surpassing the energy output of even the brightest known supernova explosions.”

ENTs are millions of times rarer than supernovae. But their extreme brightness means they can be seen even in extremely distant galaxies, giving scientists a new way to study black holes in the early universe.

Discovery through data

One of the ENTs studied in this work, named Gaia18cdj, released 25 times more energy than the most powerful supernova on record. In just one year, it radiated energy equal to the lifetime output of 100 Suns. Most supernovae, in comparison, produce only one Sun鈥檚 lifetime output over a similar timescale.

Hinkle first spotted the strange flares while combing through publicly available data from the Gaia space telescope. Unlike more common cosmic explosions that fade over several weeks, ENTs glow steadily for years.

“Gaia observations don鈥檛 tell you what a transient is, just that something changed in how bright it appears to us,” said Hinkle. “But when I saw these smooth, long-lived flares from the centers of distant galaxies, I knew we were looking at something unusual.”

Rare cosmic events

Hinkle used years of observations from 东精影业鈥檚 Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System with telescopes on Haleakal膩 and Mauna Loa, the W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, and other telescopes on and orbiting the Earth to characterize these events. Researchers confirmed these weren鈥檛 supernovae or normal black hole activity. Instead, ENTs appear to be caused by a smoother, more drawn-out process, stars multiple times as massive as our Sun being slowly consumed by black holes.

“ENTs provide a valuable new tool for studying massive black holes in distant galaxies,” said Benjamin Shappee, an associate professor at IfA who co-authored the study. “Because they’re so bright, we can see them across vast cosmic distances—and in astronomy, looking far away means looking back in time. By observing these prolonged flares, we gain insights into black hole growth when the universe was half its current age and galaxies were busy places鈥攆orming stars and feeding their supermassive black holes 10 times more vigorously than they do today.”

More ENTs

Astronomers hope to spot many more ENTs, with each offering a glimpse into the powerful forces shaping galaxies across cosmic time. Future observatories such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and 狈础厂础鈥檚 Roman Space Telescope could uncover many more of these spectacular events, revolutionizing our understanding of black hole activity in the distant, early universe.

“These ENTs don鈥檛 just mark the dramatic end of a massive star鈥檚 life. They illuminate the processes responsible for growing the largest black holes in the universe,” said Hinkle.

Crowds gathered at Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo on May 3 for AstroDay 2025, a free celebration of science, technology and space exploration. Faculty, staff and students from the University of Hawaiʻi (IfA) were among scientists and scholars presenting everything from hands-on activities, live science shows to robotics at the 23rd annual event hosted by Maunakea Observatories.

More than 30 organizations from across Hawaiʻi came together to share the wonders of science with keiki and their families. Exhibits invited participants to build model comets, create exoplanets and explore the universe through ultraviolet cameras.

“Everyone鈥檚 enthusiastic about sharing their science, and a lot of that energy gets transported to the general public, and that鈥檚 what we hope the public will come away with,” said Carolyn Kaichi, education and outreach specialist at IfA.

Seeds of inspiration

For many, the event was more than just fun鈥攊t was deeply personal. Sage Constantinou, a graduate student at IfA, remembered how AstroDay helped spark his own scientific journey.

“The earlier you can get kids exposed to this sort of thing the longer it has to stew,” Constantinou said. “I used to be a little kid at these events. I grew up here in this town. It鈥檚 a big part of why I was able to follow my own path in education and eventually pursue my own research.”

The event celebrated student creativity through the popular Maunakea Coin Contest. Ros Haleyah Mari Asuncion Ganot, an 11th grader at Pāhoa High and Intermediate School, earned first place with her astronomy-inspired design.

A team of researchers, using data from the on Maunakea and 狈础厂础鈥檚 Hubble Space Telescope, has identified what is likely a rare three-body system in the Kuiper Belt. If confirmed, the 148780 Altjira system could change how scientists understand the formation of objects in a distant region of the solar system.

“This discovery is scientifically fascinating because we don鈥檛 know how to distinguish between different models of how this part of the solar system formed, and the existence of triple systems helps rule one model out,” said John O鈥橫eara, chief scientist and deputy director at Keck Observatory. “With adaptive optics (a system specifically designed to reduce atmospheric blurring), we can be as sharp an eye on the sky as a space telescope, complimenting Hubble鈥檚 strengths.”

Altjira, located 3.7 billion miles from Earth, was previously thought to be a binary system. However, after analyzing 17 years of observational data, researchers discovered that one of the two visible objects is actually two closely bound bodies. If verified, this would be only the second known triple system in the Kuiper Belt.

The study, led by Brigham Young University, was recently published in .

“The universe is filled with a range of three-body systems, including the Alpha Centauri star system, and we鈥檙e finding that the Kuiper Belt may be no exception,” said lead author Maia Nelsen from Brigham Young University.

Rare discovery

The Kuiper Belt, a vast icy region beyond Neptune, is home to thousands of primitive objects left over from the early solar system. While binary systems are relatively common, triple systems are rare. The discovery of another could mean that these formations are more frequent than previously believed.

Keck鈥檚 powerful adaptive optics system played a key role in identifying Altjira鈥檚 unique structure. Researchers said the system has now entered an eclipsing phase, where its components will pass in front of one another. This event, lasting the next decade, will allow for further study, including upcoming observations by 狈础厂础鈥檚 James Webb Space Telescope.

“With objects this small and far away, the separation between the two inner members of the system is a fraction of a pixel on Hubble鈥檚 camera, so you have to use non-imaging methods to discover that it鈥檚 a triple,” Nelsen explained.

Scientists hope that continued observations will reveal more about how these rare triple systems form and whether they are a common feature of the Kuiper Belt.

University of Hawaiʻi astronomers are playing a pivotal role in tracking an asteroid once feared to pose a risk to Earth. Using state-of-the-art telescopes on Maunakea, including the (CFHT), these scientists have helped refine calculations on the trajectory of asteroid 2024 YR4.

A 东精影业 telescope discovered the “city-killer” size asteroid in December. Recent calculations gave it a 3% probability of colliding with Earth in December 2032. The newest observations collected on February 19 now show that the likelihood has dropped to just 0.28%.

“The atmosphere above Maunakea tends to be very stable, and it enables telescopes to produce very sharp images, sharper than most other observatory locations,” said David Tholen, an astronomer at 东精影业鈥檚 (IfA). Tholen, along with IfA colleagues Richard Wainscoat and Rob Weryk, analyzed images captured by the CFHT鈥檚 MegaCam, a 380 MegaPixel wide-field camera designed for asteroid tracking and deep-space imaging.

Window closing on ability to observe asteroid

The team’s findings are crucial to NASA驶s planetary defense efforts, providing critical data for experts assessing the asteroid’s path. However, time is running out for ground-based tracking.

“The distance between the Earth and the asteroid keeps increasing, and as that happens the asteroid gets fainter and fainter, and at some point, it will be too faint to reach with even the largest telescopes we have here on Earth,” Tholen explained.

By April 2025, 2024 YR4 will be too distant and faint to detect with Earth-based telescopes. NASA plans to use the James Webb Space Telescope in May to gather further insights on its size and structure, but the next opportunity to monitor the asteroid from Earth will not come until 2028, when it will again be bright enough for telescopic observations.

Asteroid impact

Despite the lower impact probability, astronomers remain vigilant. History has demonstrated the destructive power of similar-sized asteroids. In 1908, a comparable object exploded over Tunguska, Siberia, leveling 1,000 square miles of forest. If an asteroid the size of 2024 YR4 entered Earth’s atmosphere over a populated area, it could generate a powerful airburst capable of breaking windows or causing minor structural damage across an entire city.

东精影业 aids planetary defense

东精影业鈥檚 IfA plays a central role in planetary defense. The university operates some of the world鈥檚 most advanced asteroid-tracking telescopes, such as the NASA-funded (ATLAS), which has facilities in Hawaiʻi, Chile and South Africa. Additionally, Pan-STARRS, located on Haleakal膩, is the leading near-Earth object (NEO) discovery telescope, responsible for detecting many of the most concerning asteroids while they are still far from Earth.

On Maunakea, two 东精影业-operated telescopes also contribute to planetary defense by helping to track or analyze NEOs. 狈础厂础鈥檚 , a 3.2-meter observatory, specializes in studying NEOs to assess impact risks, while the 东精影业 telescope aids in predicting future asteroid trajectories. Next week, Tholen and his team will continue tracking 2024 YR4, using the 东精影业88 telescope, ensuring that the asteroid’s path remains under close observation.

A University of Hawaiʻi-operated telescope has discovered a fairly large asteroid that may impact the Earth. The historic asteroid, 2024 YR4, was first detected by 东精影业鈥檚 (ATLAS) in December 2024 as it flew past the Earth. Estimated to be the size of a 20-story building, the asteroid is currently 27 million miles away and returns to Earth鈥檚 vicinity every 4 years. While it is expected to safely pass Earth in 2028, scientists warn that a collision in December 2032 remains a possibility.

狈础厂础鈥檚 estimates a 1% chance that asteroid 2024 YR4 could collide with Earth in 2032, based on current observations. Throughout the coming months, astronomers will closely monitor the 180-foot (55-meter)-wide object to refine its orbit and improve predictions of its future trajectory. No asteroid of this size has ever reached a 1% impact probability in the past two decades of near-Earth object tracking, making 2024 YR4 a rare and closely watched case.

While the odds of impact remain low, history has shown that even small asteroids can cause significant destruction. In 2013, a 65-foot (20-meter) asteroid exploded over Russia, unleashing a shock wave that shattered windows in 7,200 buildings across six cities. More than a century earlier, in 1908, an asteroid roughly the size of 2024 YR4 detonated over Tunguska, Siberia, flattening trees across nearly 1,000 square miles. Though scientists estimate a 99% chance that 2024 YR4 will safely miss Earth in 2032, its potential for impact—especially over populated areas—has drawn the close attention of the planetary defense community.

“Tiny asteroids do hit the Earth all the time, disintegrating in the atmosphere as fireballs; fortunately small ones cause little damage on the ground,” said Larry Denneau, an astronomer at 东精影业 (IfA) and co-principal investigator at ATLAS. “Larger asteroids can cause much more damage, but they impact the Earth much less frequently. There are still many large ones out there that we haven鈥檛 found yet, which is why we are continuously monitoring the whole sky to ensure that we stay ahead of potential threats.”

Hawaiʻi telescopes monitoring

Observatories on Maunakea and Haleakal膩 are actively tracking 2024 YR4 to refine its trajectory. In 2022, 东精影业 was instrumental in helping track 狈础厂础鈥檚 Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) target asteroid system, the first successful asteroid deflection mission, proving that with enough time, an asteroid鈥檚 path can be altered to protect Earth.

• Related 东精影业 News story: 东精影业 astronomers capture historic NASA spacecraft, asteroid collisions, September 27, 2022

鈥�&濒诲辩耻辞;Hawaiʻi鈥檚 telescopes are some of the most important tools for planetary defense,” said Doug Simons, director at IfA. “Thanks to our prime location and advanced technology, we can spot, track, and study asteroids with incredible accuracy. That gives scientists the time they need to evaluate potential threats and figure out the best ways to respond.”

Planetary defense

东精影业 IfA plays a central role in planetary defense, operating some of the world鈥檚 most advanced asteroid-tracking telescopes. ATLAS, funded by NASA, is a four-telescope system located in Hawaiʻi, atop Haleakal膩 and Maunaloa, Chile and South Africa. It specializes in detecting asteroids on very close approaches to Earth, discovering hundreds of near-Earth objects (NEOs) each year.

IfA also operates the or Pan-STARRS on Haleakal膩, the world’s leading NEO discovery telescope, which is equipped to detect potentially dangerous asteroids while they are still far from Earth. As scientists continue to assess the risk posed by this asteroid, Pan-STARRS remains actively engaged in tracking its movements and refining its projected trajectory. Each year, the ground-based telescope response system on Maui tracks more than half of the near-Earth objects larger than 140 meters detected globally.

On Maunakea, two 东精影业-operated telescopes are also serving as key components of 狈础厂础鈥檚 planetary defense system in monitoring 2024 YR4. The or IRTF, a 3.2-meter NASA-funded observatory, specializes in studying near-Earth objects NEOs to evaluate potential impact risks. Meanwhile, the 东精影业88 telescope aids in forecasting the future trajectories of these space bodies.

The search for NEOs is funded by 狈础厂础鈥檚 through its .

An observatory on Maunakea played a pivotal role in a groundbreaking study that sheds light on the birth and evolution of planetary systems. Using the (SMA), an astronomer from the University of Hawaiʻi helped capture crystal-clear images of exocomet belts鈥攔egions around stars where icy and rocky objects called exocomets are found.

The study captured images of the light emitted from millimeter-sized pebbles within exocomet belts surrounding 74 stars near Earth. It represents the largest survey of such objects to date. The belts are tens to hundreds of times further from their star than the Earth is from the Sun and are exceptionally cold, with temperatures ranging from -250 to -150 degrees Celsius, where most compounds, including water, are frozen as ice. This makes these belts critical ice reservoirs within planetary systems.

东精影业 astronomer Jonathan Williams from the has studied planet forming disks for more than 20 years.

“This work helps us understand the origins of our own Solar System,” Williams explained. “Like most abstract scientific research, the impact on people鈥檚 daily lives is minimal, but it contributes to the body of knowledge that ultimately changes humanity’s perspective on their place in the universe.”

Belt ‘disks’

Led by Luca Matra, an astrophysicist from Trinity College Dublin, the REASONS (REsolved ALMA and SMA Observations of Nearby Stars) study leveraged the combined capabilities of the SMA and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. These observatories observed electromagnetic radiation at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths, providing the most detailed information yet on exocomets and their belts.

“The images reveal a remarkable diversity in the structure of belts. Some are narrow rings, as in the canonical picture of a 鈥榖elt鈥� like our Solar System鈥檚 Edgeworth-Kuiper belt. But a larger number of them are wide, and probably better described as ‘disks’ rather than rings,” said study coauthor Sebasti谩n Marino, Royal Society University Research Fellow at the University of Exeter.

Exocomet collisions

Exocomets are often larger than 1 kilometer in size and collide within these belts to create the smaller pebbles observed in the study. These belts are not unique to a select few systems鈥攖hey are found in at least 20% of planetary systems, including our own.

“The REASONS dataset of belt and planetary system properties will enable studies of the birth and evolution of these belts, as well as follow-up observations across the wavelength range, from James Webb Space Telescope to the next generation of Extremely Large Telescopes and ALMAs upcoming ARKS Large Program to zoom even further onto the details of these belts,” said coauthor David Wilner at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard and Smithsonian.

The team of scientists part of this study include Williams (东精影业 IfA), Matra (Trinity College), Marino (University of Exeter), Wilner (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) and 18 other coauthors from across Europe and the U.S.

AstroDay West transformed Kona Commons Shopping Center into a hub of discovery on November 2, captivating hundreds of eager attendees with science and technology exhibits at the annual day-long celebration on Hawaiʻi Island. Scientists, faculty and students from the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 (IfA) were on hand to share their expertise with attendees of all-ages.

Organized by the Maunakea Observatories, the free event featured hands-on demonstrations and displays related to astronomy, robotics and natural sciences. IfA was among the 26 organizations on site such as Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the National Weather Service.

IfA shared a rare experience: for the first time at AstroDay West, the public could peer into a solar telescope and safely view the Sun鈥檚 surface.

“AstroDay was a lot of fun, it鈥檚 great to interact with the community, especially keiki,” said Ellen Lee, a grad student at IfA. “I love going out and talking about space with people.”

IfA grad student Maria Vincent also enjoyed helping to inspire the next generation.

“My favorite part of AstroDay was answering the really far out there questions from keiki,” Vincent said. “They have hypothetical situations that I typically don鈥檛 think about, but really enjoy explaining.”

Spotlighting opportunities

AstroDay West also spotlighted 东精影业鈥檚 new Space Science Engineering Initiative to encourage local students to pursue careers in astronomy and engineering. Launched this fall at 东精影业 Hilo, the initiative offers pre-engineering courses on the Hilo campus providing pathways to 东精影业 M膩noa for students aiming for degrees in engineering. The program is tied to a planned space engineering and instrument development center, which will be housed at IfA鈥檚 facilities on the 东精影业 Hilo campus.

• Related 东精影业 News story: 东精影业 launching space tech development center, student-training hub, January 7, 2024

For nearly a decade, AstroDay West has provided a platform for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 scientific community to engage with the public. Each spring, AstroDay events are also held in Hilo commemorating International Astronomy Day.

Astronomers have uncovered the largest pair of black hole jets ever observed, stretching an astonishing 23 million light-years across the universe. This discovery, made using on Maunakea and other telescopes around the world, was recently published in and featured on the cover of the journal鈥檚 September issue.

“This pair is not just the size of a solar system, or a Milky Way; we are talking about 140 Milky Way diameters in total,” said Martijn Oei, a Caltech postdoctoral scholar and lead author of the new study. “The Milky Way would be a little dot in these two giant eruptions.”

The jet structure, nicknamed Porphyrion after a giant from Greek mythology, dates back to when the universe was only 6.3 billion years old鈥攍ess than half its current age. These powerful outflows, with an energy output equivalent to trillions of suns, are emitted from a supermassive black hole at the center of a distant galaxy.

Porphyrion now holds the record for the largest black hole jet system, surpassing the previous titleholder, Alcyoneus, which spanned about 100 Milky Way diameters.

Galaxy development

The discovery suggests that these enormous jet systems may have played a more significant role in the development of early galaxies than previously thought. Porphyrion emerged during a time when the universe鈥檚 “cosmic web”鈥攖he large-scale structure that connects galaxies鈥攚as much denser, allowing jets like these to reach further than those in today鈥檚 universe.

“Astronomers believe that galaxies and their central black holes co-evolve, and one key aspect of this is that jets can spread huge amounts of energy that affect the growth of their host galaxies and other galaxies near them,” said co-author George Djorgovski, a Caltech professor of astronomy and data science. “This discovery shows that their effects can extend much farther out than we thought.”

Not many people can say they search for life on other planets for a living, but University of Hawaiʻi alumna Megan Ansdell can. Ansdell grew up in Kāneʻohe and earned a PhD in astrophysics at the 东精影业 (IfA). Today, she works as a Program Scientist at NASA, playing a key role in the development of the (HWO).

Ansdell is one of the leading scientists for the future space telescope, which is still in the planning stages. HWO is expected to be a large ultraviolet, optical, and infrared observatory in space. Its mission will be to search for chemical biosignatures in the atmospheres of nearby Earth-like planets outside our solar system. These biosignatures include gasses such as oxygen and methane, which could be crucial evidence of life.

“This is one of the fundamental questions that we have: ‘Is there life out there?’” Ansdell said. “If we do potentially detect signs of life on another planet, I think that would actually motivate people to behave more responsibly here on Earth. Whether the answer is ‘yes, it鈥檚 common,’ or ‘no, it鈥檚 not,’ I would hope that people on Earth would be better stewards of Earth itself.”

Maunakea astronomy

During her five-year graduate studies journey at 东精影业 M膩noa, Ansdell made the most of IfA鈥檚 extraordinary opportunities for students, providing her hands-on work inside premier observatories on Maunakea. She says working at the 东精影业88 telescope was especially memorable.

• Related 东精影业 News story: 东精影业 astronomers part of NASA鈥檚 $19.5M artificial star mission, June 10, 2024

“That鈥檚 how I learned to observe. 东精影业88 is a really important telescope for IfA students on one of the best astronomical sites in the world, and I had the responsibility of not just thinking about the science but actually operating the telescope. That gave me so much more perspective,” Ansdell explained.

Research excellence, IfA internship

While working on her PhD, Ansdell鈥檚 research focused on protoplanetary disks. Her thesis won the International Astronomical Union鈥檚 PhD prize for planetary systems and bioastronomy and 东精影业鈥檚 Doctoral Student Excellence in Research Award in 2016.

During her undergraduate years, Ansdell attended the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. In 2006, she returned home to take advantage of the co-sponsored by IfA. The annual program offers college students paid summer work experience at observatories, companies, or scientific and technical facilities on Hawaiʻi Island or Maui.

“It gave a realistic view of what a career in that field could be like. I think it gave me more perspective on what I would like to do within the context of astronomy. It gave me an appreciation of what they do,” said Ansdell.

NASA scientist

Ansdell calls Washington D.C. home now, which is convenient as it allows her to see her stepdad, Representative Ed Case, regularly.

She is based at NASA Headquarters and hopes her work on the HWO mission could one day answer one of humanity鈥檚 oldest questions, is there extraterrestrial life?