modern history of astronomy in hawaii
TRANSCRIPT
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– Günther Hasinger – Astrocoffee
– IfA, September 11, 2015
Modern History of Astronomy in Hawaii
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“The ancient Hawaiians were astronomers” wrote Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii's last reigning monarch, in 1897 in the introduction to her translation of the “Kumulipo”.
Picking up from the wonderful talk by Kalepa Baybayan at the IAU GA
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Captain Cook In 1769 Captain Cook sailed to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus.
This was one of the most important measurements of its time, determining the size of the solar system and thus the universe.
Continuing on his journey, he “discovered” Hawaii.
Cook
Green
Thus astronomy brought both the Polynesian settlers and the European discoverers to Hawaii
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British Astronomer George L. Tupman
1874 Venus Transit
King Kalakaua wrote in 1873: It will afford me unfeigned satisfaction if my kingdom can add its quota toward the successful accomplishment of the most important astronomical observation of the present century and assist, however humbly, the enlightened nations of the earth in these costly enterprises…”
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Venus Transit 2012: ~15000 Visitors at Waikiki Beach in Hawaii
Venus Transit 2012
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In 1881 King Kalakaua looks through the Lick observatory 12” telescope. He enthusiastically expressed a desire to bring such a telescope to Hawaii. In 1884 a 5” refractor was installed in the dome constructed above Pauahi Hall on the Punahou School Campus.
The “Royal Hawaiian Telescope”
1880
1884 Letter of King Kalakaua to Captain R. S. Floyd, expressing his interest in having an observatory in Hawaii.
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Fate of “Kalakaua’s Telescope” Kaimuki Observatory Halley’s
Comet
1910
1958
College of Hawaii è U. Hawaii
Physics student Barbara Jay
University of Hawaii Solar Observatory at Makapuu Point, Oahu 1967.
Images from Walt Steiger, Hawaii Institute for Geophysics
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Pioneering Haleakalā
Haleakalā, 1955
The telescope was supposed to use the ocean as a reflector to form an interferometer.
Reber, the Father of Radio Astronomy, was disappointed by the results of this telescope, mainly due to man-made radio interference from Maui and Oahu.
Reber was the first to build on Haleakalā. His telescope structure collapsed under ice and snow in an ice storm in 1957
The Grote Reber Circle Telescope
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Beginning of Solar Physics at UH
Makapuu Point
Solar Observatory
Hα image of the sun
29 February 1958 (IGY) Haleakala Groundbreaking and completion of Mees Observatory in 1962 Feb 1962 Nov 1962
Courtesy: University of Hawaii Institute for Geophysics (HIGP)
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Haleakala Observatory Today
July 31, 2015, courtesy Mike Maberry
Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope
Pan-STARRS Observatory PS1 & PS2
Maui Space Surveillance
Complex
(AEOS)
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The devastating Tsunami of May 1960
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The pioneers of Maunakea Astronomy
Mitsuo Akiyama Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce
Howard Ellis Mauna Loa Weather Observatory
Gerald Kuiper U. of A. Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
Alika Herring Master Optician Master Observer Guitar Player
The first objects in Kuiper Belt have been discovered with the 88” telescope on Maunakea.
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50 years of astronomy on Maunakea
August 26, 2014
Ellis Akiyama Kuiper
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Gerard Kuiper & Governor Burns Mauna Kea 1964
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Alika Herring
… a Native Hawaiian, polished the best mirrors of his time. He also was a master steel guitar player.
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Alika Herring
… with his 12” telescope on Pu’u Poliahu
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He was driven to make the best map of the moon
to find landing sites for the Apollo Astronauts,
following the footsteps of his polynesian ancestors
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Mitsuo Akiyama, Mrs. Akiyama and Howard Ellis on Pu’u Poliahu
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Jim Harwood and Alika Herring, preparing seeing measurements on various sites on Maunakea.
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– Smooth air flow across the summit minimizes turbulence, helping keep images steady and increasing resolution compared to most other high altitude sites – Predominant East-West air flow,
unobstructed by land for thousands of miles before it reaches Hawaii
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IfA founding Director John
Jefferies
1964-1983
Won the NASA competition for the 88” telescope.
Founded the Institute for Astronomy.
Built up Maunakea as a premier astronomical observatory.
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First Step: The 88” Telescope
1970
The road and the telescope sites were carefully chosen to avoid Lake Weiau and the culturally most significant cinder cones (including the summit itself)
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CFHT 1979 IRTF 1979 UKIRT 1979
CSO 1987 JCMT 1987 VLBA 1992
Keck 1993 & 1996 Gemini 1999 Subaru 1999
Two decades of rapid development
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The Submillimeter Array (8 x 6m) 2002
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MAUNAKEA OBSERVATORIES
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Nights on Maunakea
Time lapse videos from Jason Chu, IfA graduate student
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Total Impact per Telescope (2015 – Courtesy D. Crabtree) – MAUNAKEA
– OBSERVATORIES
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Importance of Maunakea Observatories to Astronomy
– Plot courtesy Markus Kissler-Patig
– Maunakea Observatories Total
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The Holy Grail: Earth-2 To find an Earth-like planet around a solar-type star, which is close enough, that future generationss might fly there.
We already have made great strides towards this goal. From work done here in Hawaii we know that ~20% of all stars have Earth-like planets in their habitable zone. The closest of these could be just 10 light years away.
Where is it? Hawaii could well be the gateway to the next planets!
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The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)
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TMT on Maunakea
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Maunakea – A Sacred Mountain
Hawaiian Shrine on the
– True Summit of Maunakea
• As the highest peak in Hawaii (Polynesia), Maunakea has enormous importance to Native Hawaiians and is among the most sacred sites in the State.
• The resurgence of native Hawaiian culture in the later 20th century coincided with the development of Maunakea as an astronomy site, leading to significant tension, activism, protests, etc., particularly in the ‘90’s as 8-10 m class telescopes were built.
• The future of Maunakea astronomy is inextricably linked to Hawaiian culture.
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Classic “3 Legged Stool” Situation
Science
Culture
Environment
– We are all stewards of this sacred mountain
Sustainability through balance
Courtesy Doug Simons, director of CFHT, the pioneer and local hero in searching for Common Ground & Paul Coleman, Hawaiian Astronomer.
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Mahalo