Astronomy

Observations suggest the comet’s chemistry changed as it passed near the sun, providing new clues to how materials in interstellar comets differ from those in comets formed in this part of the cosmic neighborhood.

This upcoming weekend promises 3 days packed full of so much fun for the entire ‘ohana, we had to slightly increase the top 10 to a top 11 things to do — with activities, events and festivals planned spanning from the earth under your feet to outer space.

The discovery offers new clues into how brown dwarfs grow and change over time.

Researchers with the help of a Mauna Kea observatory construct first complete spectrum of the two distinct rings orbiting around the seventh planet in the solar system, revealing composition and formation history.

Launch window opens at 12:24 p.m. Hawai‘i Standard Time — in less than T-minus 30 minutes now — for the first crewed flight in more than 50 years to blast off on a path toward the moon.

‘Spin is a fossil record of how a planet formed,’ said study lead author and researcher at Northwestern University Dino Chih-Chun Hsu in an announcement about the discovery. ‘By measuring how quickly these worlds rotate, we can start to piece together the physical processes that shaped them tens to hundreds of millions of years ago.’

The Waikōloa museum’s Island Science Lecture Series continues today, March 19, with Jessica Nagasako, who will share some recent science updates from the Mauna Kea observatory and answer the question, ‘How do we get that data?’

Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority — in its final stage of gathering public input for a new Comprehensive Management Plan for the Big Island mauna — encourages the public to participate and complete the survey; community input and ideas will help ensure Mauna Kea is protected for future generations.

A birthday bash from 2 to 6 p.m. today will feature hands-on activities, anniversary treats, giveaways and full access to exhibits and the planetarium all for free; the celebration also kicks off a year of monthly anniversary programming throughout 2026.

And that’s just a quick sample of the wide and, shall we say, unique variety of events and activities happening around the Big Island. Cure that ‘cabin fever’ and get out of the house to discover what we’re talking about.

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.

Valentine’s Day is Saturday (Feb. 14), and there are several events and activities happening this weekend around the island that will make great date options. So good that Cupid himself approves. Check them out now!

All Big Island students in grades kindergarten through 12 are eligible to submit designs for the contest, but don’t wait; the deadline to enter is this Friday (Feb. 13).

Journey Through the Universe hosted its 22nd year with 46 volunteer educators visiting classrooms, participating in career panels and hosting community events all about astronomy.

Get ready for a week that invites you to events from helping restore an ancient Hawaiian village site in the Valley of the Kings to expressing your opinions during a town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Congresswoman Jill Tokuda.

The event returns to celebrate and honor Hawai‘i’s first astronaut, who died in January 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, and give all ages the chance to explore the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics during a fun day filled with science.

Spectre, being created for NASA Infrared Telescope Facility atop Mauna Kea on the Big Island and named as a nod to a connection with Olympic weightlifter and actor Harold Sakata of Kona, who played OddJob in the James Bond film ‘Goldfinger,’ after first light in 2028 will also deepen mankind’s understanding of explosive phenomena beyond our solar system.

Another mission and experiment flying over the frozen continent that received heavy University of Hawaiʻi involvement seeks to decode universe’s mysteries.

A new multi-wavelength study shows that some ultra-massive galaxies shut down star formation early, while others remain active but hidden by dust,

A team of astronomers using a variety of telescopes — including W. M. Keck Observatory atop Mauna Kea on the Big Island — seem to have discovered a possible “Superkilonova,” or a kilonova spurred by a supernova that forms a pair of dense, dead stars called neutron stars than then smash together.