#Institute for Astronomy
University of Hawai‘i discovery on Mauna Kea sheds light on brown dwarfs
The discovery offers new clues into how brown dwarfs grow and change over time.
Turbulent times discovered in sun’s corona through University of Hawaiʻi eclipse research
The study reveals the origin and evolution of turbulence in the corona, a process long linked to coronal heating and the acceleration of the solar wind.
New artificial intelligence tool helps UH researchers unlock sun’s magnetic secrets
These advances allow researchers to see the sun’s magnetic landscape more accurately and improve predictions of solar activity that impacts life on Earth, including solar flares and coronal ejections that can disrupt satellites, power systems and communications.
UH astronomers reveal history of red giant through ‘stellar vibrations’
Much like seismic waves reveal Earth’s inner layers, these stellar vibrations gave scientists a rare glimpse beneath the star’s surface.
Institute for Astronomy debuts advanced robotic optics at UH 2.2-meter telescope on Mauna Kea
Robo-AO-2 is designed to correct the blur caused by Earth’s atmosphere, sharpening images of hundreds of objects each night with minimal human oversight.
New instrument on Subaru Telescope leads to breakthrough discovery
A photonic lantern allows astronomers to see deeper into space than ever before using a single telescope.
UH telescope detects solar system’s third known interstellar visitor
The newly identified object, dubbed 3I/ATLAS, is suspected to be a comet and should show increasing activity as it gets closer to the sun, but it will never get warm enough to be seen by the naked eye. And it poses no risk of hitting Earth.
University of Hawaiʻi officially begins process to decommission UKIRT telescope atop Mauna Kea
It will be the third Mauna Kea observatory decommissioned under the university’s Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan, following Caltech Submillimeter Observatory and University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Hōkū Keʻa Observatory, both completed in 2024.
University of Hawaiʻi astronomers discover biggest explosion since the Big Bang
A team at the Institute for Astronomy uncovered rare events when massive stars at least three times the mass of the Sun are shredded by supermassive black holes.
UH astronomers uncover risks to planets that could host life
Findings suggest that powerful radiation — some12 times stronger than previously thought — could seriously impact a planet’s ability to sustain life.
Potential $85M from NASA for University of Hawai‘i management of Maunakea telescope
The telescope funding comes from the NASA Near-Earth Object Observations Program.
University of Hawai‘i astronomers part of NASA’s $19.5M artificial star mission
The artificial star satellite is expected to help answer questions surrounding the speed and acceleration of the universe’s expansion.
UH launching space tech development center, student-training hub
The Space Sciences Initiative is expected to expand Hawaiʻi’s technology sector and create more high-paying jobs across the state.
Applicants needed for paid STEM-based internship
The internship program is led by the Institute for Scientist and Engineer Educators at University of California Observatories, in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi.
Vast bubble of galaxies discovered, given Hawaiian name
The entity has been given the name Hoʻoleilana, a term drawn from the Kumulipo, a Hawaiian creation chant evoking the origin of structure.
UH astronomer proposes space ‘umbrella’ to help mitigate effects of climate change
Scientists around the globe are working on myriad ways to reduce the effects of climate change, including István Szapudi, an astronomer at the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, who has devised a novel idea to lessen the amount of sunlight hitting our planet.
$4M NASA grant will help UH researchers develop new sensors for mission to find possibly inhabitable Earth-like exoplanets
For the past several years, with NASA support, astronomers at the UH Institute for Astronomy and industry partners have been maturing the new tech that will be used for a mission to identify and classify about 25 Earth-like exoplanets.
AstroDay returns to Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo
The 21st Annual AstroDay, a free science and astronomy event, will be held May 6 at the Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo.
New study: Strange interstellar object ‘Oumuamua could be hydrogen-burping comet
Researchers have speculated about what ‘Oumuamua is since the reddish cigar-shaped galactic guest was first observed nearly six years ago by the Pan-STARRS1 telescope atop Haleakalā on Maui.
What’s your favorite extraterrestrial event in 2023? Take Big Island Now’s 30-second poll
In 2023 there have been some extraterrestrail events spied from Earth that have had the public, internet and social media buzzing. What was your favorite?
