Global Warming Highlights April Maunakea Skies Program

Dr. Nobuo Arimoto. ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center courtesy photo.

Dr. Nobuo Arimoto, the Director of Subaru Telescope and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, will discuss rising temperatures on Earth in the next Maunakea Skies presentation at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center.

On Friday, April 15, Dr. Arimoto will explore continued global warming and what could happen if Earth becomes uninhabitable.

The 7 p.m. talk will include a planetarium tour of the solar system and beyond. Dr. Arimoto will highlight discoveries made by the Subaru Telescope and will discuss exoplanets, or extrasolar planets, which are outside of our solar system and orbit a star that is not the sun.

Since the first discovery of exoplanets in 1988, over 2,000 have been identified. Using Subaru Telescope’s large 8.2 meter diameter primary mirror and pioneering technologies, coupled with superb observation conditions on Mauna Kea, astronomers have discovered dozens of exoplanets.

Dr. Arimoto began an intense interest in astronomy at 11 years old when a neighbor showed him how to use a telescope.

Later, he became a student of astronomy at Tohoku University, where he received his Ph.D. in astronomy in 1980.

In April of 2012, Dr. Arimoto became Director of the Subaru Telescope. He focuses his scientific research on understanding galaxy evolution and the properties of individual stars within galaxies.

‘Imiloa’s monthly Maunakea Skies planetarium presentations are held on the third Friday of each month.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for members. They can be purchased at the ‘Imiloa front desk or by calling 932-8901.