GUEST SPEAKER: Robert McLaren, Interim Director, University of Hawaiʻi, Institute for AstronomyVIRTUAL ASTRONOMY TALK | Astronomy on Maunakea originated in community efforts to revive the Hawaiʻi Island economy following the 1960 tsunami that devastated Hilo. It quickly acquired governmental support, especially from Governor John Burns. The University of Hawaiʻi took a leading role, commissioning the […]

GUEST SPEAKER: J. Xavier Prochaska, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of California, Santa Cruz Astronomer, University of California Observatories VIRTUAL ASTRONOMY TALK | Join us as Professor X describes the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its many influences on modern astronomy. These range from automating analysis of billions of galaxies to detecting the […]

GUEST SPEAKER: Raja GuhaThakurta, Co-Chair, Professor, and Astronomer, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of California Santa Cruz ASTRONOMY TALK | From dark matter to galaxy cannibalism, black holes, time machines, gravitational waves, Schrödinger’s cat, theory of inflation, and the Big Bang, Dr. GuhaThakurta will weave these cosmic secrets into the story about the origin […]

GUEST SPEAKER: Jonathan Arenberg, Chief Engineer, Space Science Missions, Northrup Grumman Aerospace Systems ASTRONOMY TALK | Large space observatories are a foundation for scientific advancement. This talk will explore the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope. Their missions, designs, construction, and testing will be explained and discussed. Some of the unique challenges […]

GUEST SPEAKER: Dr. Carlos Alvarez, W. M. Keck Observatory Astronomer MAUNAKEA SKIES ASTRONOMY TALK | The Exoplanet Imaginarium is the result of a collaboration between the W. M. Keck Observatory and award-winning exoplanet artist Adam Makarenko. Together, we have created a science-based artistic rendering of a variety of exoplanet scenes. Through this project, we bring […]

GUEST SPEAKER: Steven Businger, Professor, Atmospheric Sciences Department, University of Hawai`i at Mānoa ASTRONOMY TALK | University of Hawai`i Professor Steven Businger will offer a layman’s look at the cultural and historical significance of rainbows in Hawai`i.  He will also present the science behind rainbow phenomenon and why Hawai`i is the best place in the […]

Check out planet Mercury pass across the Sun! W. M. Keck Observatory invites the community to its Mercury Transit Viewing at its headquarters in Waimea. We’ll start the morning showing a live feed of the beginning of the transit in the Jerry Nelson Conference Room. When the Sun comes over North Hawaii Community Hospital, come […]

GUEST SPEAKER: J. Christopher Howk, Professor of Physics, University of Notre Dame ASTRONOMY TALK | Maunakea Observatories are among the most powerful ground-based telescopes in the world.  They become even more powerful when combined with the use of telescopes in space, allowing astronomers to explore the extremes of the universe.  As the best-known space observatory […]

GUEST SPEAKER: John O’Meara, W. M. Keck Observatory Chief Scientist ASTRONOMY TALK | Even with the most powerful telescopes and instrumentation, astronomy faces a fundamental problem: the ability to determine the distance to objects in the cosmos.  From the solar system to the cosmic microwave background, the history of astronomy is intertwined with the hunt […]