Astronomy

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.

5 planets party in the western sky this week

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus can be seen together now in the night sky, but the best date to view the celestial alignment is March 28, when the planets stretch from the western horizon to about halfway up the sky.

High-altitude balloons to launch near Waimea

Two high-altitude balloons will be launched near Waimea starting Thursday till Saturday as part of a mission to demonstrate uncrewed stratospheric communication capabilities.

Asteroids and Aliens: TikTok ‘time traveler’ predicts world’s end this week

Make your preparations now! A self-proclaimed “time traveler” posting on the popular social media platform TikTok is saying hostile aliens will destroy Earth on March 23. But another alien, called “The Champion” will save 8,000 people to ensure humanity’s survival.

Astrophysicists on Maunakea discover galaxy protocluster COSTCO-1 with surprisingly hot gas

Observed when the universe was 11 billion years younger, COSTCO-I dates back to a time when the gas that filled most of the space outside of visible galaxies, called the intergalactic medium, was significantly cooler.

And the winner of the first first Big Island Now/Kauaʻi Now poll is …

Readers were asked “What’s your favorite extraterrestrial event in 2023?” and the comet garnered one-quarter of the total vote.

Subaru-Asahi Star Camera atop Maunakea captures imagination of the world

The recent reels are part of an album of astronomical and meteorological hits produced by the Subaru-Asahi Star Camera since the beginning of 2023 that have captured the attention — and imagination — of the world.

Jupiter and Venus coming together tonight for a cosmic kiss

The planetary public display of affection between Venus and Jupiter — the third and fourth brightest objects in the sky, respectively, after the sun and full moon — is thanks to a unique conjunction of the twosome that will happen early this evening, just after sunset and close to the horizon.

Watch: Red sprites dance over Maunakea on Big Island

On Feb. 5, red sprites briefly — and we mean briefly — danced before the eyes of people watching the Subaru-Asahi Star Camera at the Subaru Telescope atop Maunakea on the Big Island.

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?

Maunakea observatory spies aurorae on Jupiter’s moons

This is the first time scientists have detected new colors – or wavelengths – of aurora at Jupiter’s moons, which help determine what their atmospheres are made up of.

Green laser light show over Maunakea on Big Island likely a Chinese satellite

The explanation for the green laser light show over Maunakea two weeks ago seemed pretty cut and dry; it was a NASA satellite. But that’s not the case, and it looks likely the lasers were from a Chinese satellite instead.

Mysterious blue swirl, green laser lights captured by Maunakea telescope on Big Island

The mysterious blue swirl and green laser light show captured by the Subaru-Asahi Star Camera at the Subaru Telescope atop Maunakea on the Big Island inspired a lot of different ideas as to what they could be, but the explanations aren’t as out of this world as some might think.

Hawaiian words of the day: hōkū welowelo

We picked today’s “Hawaiian words of the day” in honor of the rare green comet that last night flew by Earth at its closest distance in 50,000 years.

Look up! Rare green comet will make its closest flyby of Earth tonight

Some reports say the comet, named C/2022 E3 (ZTF), could be bright enough to see with the naked eye, and definitely with a telescope or even binoculars.

Keck Observatory launches new electrician apprenticeship program for Hawaiʻi Community College students

The three-year pilot program offers highly specialized technical training and commercial work experience for students enrolled in the college’s Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology Program.

Astronomers shed new light on mysterious dark matter

Baxter and his team were able to obtain new and high-precision constraints on the matter distribution of the universe across a wide range of cosmic history.

Rare green comet commeth after 50,000 years; and it may never return again

The green comet was discovered by astronomers at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, Calif., and made its closest approach to the sun on Jan. 12.

Decommissioning of Caltech observatory on Maunakea summit on track for this year

The Caltech telescope and the University of Hawai’i at Hilo telescope both are currently in the final stages of the decommissioning process mandated in the Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan.

University of Hawaiʻi investigates coolant leak in Maunakea telescope

The University of Hawaiʻi has notified the Hawaiʻi Department of Health that it is investigating two fluid leaks from the chilling system of the UH 88 inch observatory on Maunakea, operated by the Institute for Astronomy, also known as IfA.
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