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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University of Hawaiʻi President Emeritus David Lassner and his team—including Vice President for Information Technology Garret Yoshimi and Director for Network Infrastructure Chris Zane—have been awarded the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California . The award recognizes more than 35 years of visionary leadership in connecting Hawaiʻi and the broader Pacific to the global research community.

Transforming science, education

Since establishing the first international internet connection to Australia via Hawaiʻi in 1989, the 东精影业 team has fundamentally transformed global science and education. Their efforts in securing high-capacity networking for the premier astronomical observatories on Maunakea and Haleakal膩 have supported over $1 billion in scientific investment. The data transmitted through these connections contributed directly to two Nobel Prizes in Physics, including discoveries regarding the accelerating expansion of the universe and supermassive black holes.

Beyond these technical milestones, the 东精影业 team鈥檚 work is deeply rooted in a commitment to Pacific Island communities. By expanding ultra-high bandwidth networks, they have ensured that remote islands on the front lines of climate change have equal access to vital global research resources.

“The University of Hawaiʻi‘s geographic position in the middle of the Pacific is only part of the story; what truly makes today’s Pacific Wave (a high-capacity network) connectivity possible is the people,” said Jonah Keough, managing director of Pacific Wave. “David, Garret and Chris understand that networks are built on relationships as much as fiber.”

Connecting through fiber, light

Lassner has compared this modern digital connectivity to traditional Polynesian wayfinding. Having sailed aboard 贬艒办奴濒别ʻ补鈥檚 Worldwide Voyage, Lassner noted that just as navigators connected Pacific peoples using stars, 东精影业 is connecting them through fiber and light.

“To me, that’s what the World Wide Voyage and m膩lama honua (to care for our Earth) stand for鈥攕ustainability, Indigenous-serving education, research and our service to the community,” Lassner said. “It’s an incredible opportunity to do exactly what the University of Hawaiʻi is supposed to be doing.”

The award will be formally presented at CENIC鈥檚 “The Right Connection” conference in Monterey, California, March 31鈥揂pril 1, 2026.

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.”

High atop Maunakea, employees from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo are part of the dedicated team keeping observatory operations running smoothly, from clearing roads to public safety and supporting scientists at 14,000 feet.

Their behind-the-scenes efforts make it possible to advance world-class astronomy all while caring for the mountain鈥檚 cultural and natural resources.

A groundbreaking new instrument that lets astronomers see deeper into space than ever before using a single telescope was brought to life with help from a University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 faculty member. Installed on the atop Maunakea, the first-of-its-kind device set a new benchmark for how scientists study distant stars and planets.

The instrument, called a photonic lantern, separates starlight into multiple channels, like breaking a musical chord into individual notes, allowing computers to rebuild an ultra-clear image. It鈥檚 part of a new instrument called FIRST-PL, developed and led by 东精影业 and the Paris Observatory, and installed on the advanced optics platform (Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics) at .

“What excites me most is that this instrument blends cutting-edge photonics with the precision engineering done here in Hawaiʻi,” said S茅bastien Vievard, a faculty member from the 东精影业 Space Science and Engineering Initiative (SSEI) a joint program of the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and . “It shows how collaboration across the world, and across disciplines, can literally change the way we see the cosmos.”

Sharper cosmic views

The breakthrough, published in , used the new setup to study a nearby star called beta Canis Minoris and revealed that its fast-spinning gas disk is unexpectedly lopsided, a detail never seen until now.

“This device splits the starlight according to its patterns of fluctuation, keeping subtle details that are otherwise lost. By reassembling the measurements of the outputs, we could reconstruct a very high-resolution image of a disk around a nearby star,” said Yoo Jung Kim, a graduate student at UCLA, and lead author on the study.

The international team included researchers from 东精影业, UCLA, the Paris Observatory, the University of Sydney and Subaru Telescope.

Hawaiʻi鈥檚 space future

The achievement marks a milestone for 东精影业鈥檚 new Space Science and Engineering Initiative, which launched its first engineering courses at 东精影业 Hilo in fall 2024. The initiative aims to position Hawaiʻi as a global hub for space research, technology development, and workforce training. Vievard, one of the program鈥檚 founding faculty members, is helping to lead this new academic path that blends classroom learning with hands-on engineering experience.

The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents approved the creation of a permitted interaction group at its September 18 meeting to examine possible changes to the 东精影业 System鈥檚 leadership structures, which oversee the 10 campuses statewide. The decision came after a presentation by 东精影业 President Wendy Hensel outlining the opportunities and challenges of restructuring the 10-campus system.

The options under consideration include separating UH 惭腻苍辞补 leadership from the 东精影业 System, as the 东精影业 President currently oversees both the system and non-academic functions at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, and integrating the community colleges more fully with the other three four-year campuses under systemwide administration.

The State of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Sunshine Law governing open public meetings allows a public board to appoint a group consisting of less than a quorum of its members to investigate matters for the board. After the group undertakes its assigned task, its findings and recommendations must be presented to the board at a public meeting, and the board cannot act on any recommendations until a subsequent public meeting.

The regents appointed to the group are Vice Chair Mike Miyahira, Vice Chair Joshua Faumuina, Regent Neil Abercrombie, Regent Diane Paloma, and Regent Laurie Tochiki.

Maunakea permitted interaction group

In August, the regents approved another permitted interaction group to investigate the status of the transition of Maunakea stewardship from 东精影业 to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, by July 1, 2028, pursuant to Act 255 (2021). The members of that group are Vice Chair Miyahira, Regent Wayne Higaki, Chair Gabe Lee, Regent Abercrombie and Regent Lauren Akitake.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (CMS) is advancing environmental stewardship on the mauna by replacing underground fuel storage tanks (USTs) at Halep艒haku, the mid-level facilities, with a modern system. A draft Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared under the oversight of the Maunakea Joint Management Committee, a partnership between CMS and the Mauna Kea Stewardship Oversight Authority (MKSOA).

东精影业 is removing the USTs to meet a 2028 state regulatory deadline (Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules Chapter 11-280.1-21). Under the state rule, any tanks built before August 9, 2013, must be upgraded with extra safety protection by July 15, 2028. If they are not upgraded by then, they must be permanently shut down.

The project would replace three underground fuel tanks and buried fuel lines with two smaller, above-ground double-wall tanks. The new tanks would sit on a concrete pad with built-in pumps and a containment berm. This reduces the facility footprint from about 1,945 square feet to 322 square feet and lowers fuel storage capacity from 18,000 gallons to 6,000 gallons.

Fuel stored at Halep艒haku is vital for snow plows and heavy machinery that keep Maunakea鈥檚 roads clear and safe. Reliable access supports public safety, cultural practitioners and observatory staff. Storing fuel on the mauna also reduces emissions by limiting the number of trips needed to haul fuel up the mountain.

“Fuel storage is critical for keeping Maunakea鈥檚 roads safe and accessible during weather events and natural disasters,” said Greg Chun, executive director of CMS. “Following publication of the draft EA, we look forward to gathering public input so this project reflects both essential needs and our shared commitment to stewardship.”

Initial outreach efforts

CMS has hired Sustainable Resources Group International, Inc. to prepare the draft EA. The environmental consulting firm is assessing the project site, studying potential impacts, and conducting a Ka Paʻakai analysis. As part of this work, it is reaching out to stakeholder agencies and individuals with knowledge of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices connected to the area.

The project area is in a previously disturbed utilities yard and is not known to be used by cultural practitioners or visitors. One m膩mane tree will be removed, though 40 new trees have already been planted nearby as part of restoration efforts. No historic sites will be directly affected. An archaeological monitor will be present during ground work.

“True stewardship of Maunakea requires laulima, working together with the community,” said John De Fries, executive director of MKSOA. “As this process advances, there will be opportunities for manaʻo from the public to help guide this project with respect and responsibility.”

When the draft EA is published in the Hawaiʻi Office of Planning and Sustainable Development鈥檚 Environmental Notice, the public will have 30 days to provide comments. Community members, cultural practitioners, and other stakeholders are invited to share their perspectives to help shape the final decisions. All feedback will be reviewed by the project team, and adjustments to the Proposed Action may be made based on the input received.

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 Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Board of Trustees announced on June 26 () that it is withdrawing its two lawsuits concerning Maunakea, calling the decision “a pivotal shift towards collaborative stewardship and cultural preservation of the sacred mountain.”

The first lawsuit, filed in 2017, sought to hold the State of Hawaiʻi, the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and the University of Hawaiʻi accountable for what it described as decades of mismanagement, an allegation 东精影业 repeatedly challenged.

“We look forward to this new chapter of unity and shared responsibility with OHA and Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA), and we affirm our longstanding commitment to responsibly stewarding Maunakea鈥檚 natural and cultural resources,” said 东精影业 Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship Director Greg Chun. “We deeply appreciate the dedication of the many people who have cared for the mauna over the decades, including rangers, biologists, visitor center staff, volunteer board members, and many others who have been implicated in the lawsuit鈥檚 claims. Your service is not unnoticed.”

The second lawsuit, filed in January 2024, challenged the constitutionality of Act 255, which established the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA). Governor Josh Green commended the decision by OHA, saying it opened a new chapter of unity and shared responsibility.

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 NASA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.

This week鈥檚 东精影业 News Image of the Week is from the 东精影业 Hilo Maunakea Rangers.

The view of K墨lauea’s eruption from earlier this year as seen from Maunakea.

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A team of researchers, using data from the on Maunakea and NASA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 NASA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. NASA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.

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel visited 东精影业 Hilo on February 18, her first visit to the campus since taking office on January 1. This was part of her systemwide tour of 东精影业鈥檚 10 campuses and five education centers, during which she is meeting with students, faculty and staff across the state in her first 90 days.

Hensel met with key campus governance groups, including the Hanakahi Council—a caucus of Native Hawaiian faculty and staff—along with the staff council, faculty congress and the campus executive leadership team. Discussions covered key issues such as technology adoption, staff development, transparency, student fees and expanding interdisciplinary collaboration.

“I felt that having that personal connection in a meeting and being able to ask her the essential questions for our campus is important,” said 东精影业 Hilo Professor Celia Bardwell-Jones after Hensel鈥檚 meeting with the faculty congress. “That demonstrates good shared governance practices for the system. I felt her answers were thoughtful—I was pleasantly surprised.”

东精影业 Hilo Student Body President Chelbi Espiritu shared a similar sentiment, stating, “I think she was very open to listening and hearing us out.”

Campus open forum

More than 80 people attended a campus open forum, where Hensel addressed questions on issues including the impact of recent Executive Orders, the role of the 东精影业 System in supporting individual campuses and what it means to be a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning.

“I think it has been incredibly engaging and thoughtful,” Hensel said. “The questions were challenging and important, and we had a really good conversation about what matters to the people on this campus. That鈥檚 important. We don鈥檛 have all the answers, but we should be able to discuss the questions and how we come together as a community. I was really impressed with the level of engagement.”

Traditional welcome, Maunakea visit

The visit began in the morning with a at Hawaiʻi Community College to welcome Hensel to Hilo. The welcoming ceremony, conducted primarily in ʻ艒lelo Hawaiʻi, included an ʻawa ceremony, hula and an underlying message of unity.

During her time on Hawaiʻi Island, Hensel visited the summit of Maunakea on February 17, where she met with representatives from the 东精影业 Institute for Astronomy and the 东精影业 Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship (CMS), including the Maunakea Rangers.

“The staff was very appreciative that she took the time to visit and understand how the Center for Maunakea Stewardship and the Institute for Astronomy work together,” said 东精影业 Hilo CMS Executive Director Greg Chun. “This is a very unique research enterprise that takes extensive collaboration for the groundbreaking science and commitment to stewardship to work together.”

On February 19, she visited Ke Kula O Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, the largest Hawaiian immersion school on Hawaiʻi Island serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade. That evening, she attended a reception for donors and alumni at the Hilo Yacht Club.

Hensel鈥檚 visit concluded on February 20, when she attended the monthly 东精影业 Board of Regents meeting at the 东精影业 Hilo Daniel K. Inouye School of Pharmacy.

President Hensel鈥檚 campus/education centers remaining schedule:

President Hensel campus visit recaps

• Monday, February 24 –
• Tuesday February 25 – and
• Monday, March 3 – and
• TBD –
• Wednesday, March 5 – and
• Monday, March 24 –

For more information about President Hensel, visit the Meet President Hensel webpage. She is also active on social media and encourages the 东精影业 community to connect with her on , (formerly Twitter) and .