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Astronomy v6 – MK Tour page 1 of 12 NARRATION VIDEO 1 2 TITLES: “Astronomy on Mauna Kea” Beauty shots of telescopes on the summit. TIME (music up & under) The summit of Mauna Kea is home to some of the largest, most powerful telescopes in the world. Over the past 4 decades… Mauna Kea’s 13 observatories have pushed the boundaries of astronomy studying black holes, discovering hundreds of planets, and identifying galaxies so distant that they existed soon after the Big Bang, when the universe was born – 13.7 billion years ago. 3 Astronomy images of the universe 4 Super: Pu`u Poli`ahu 1964 Think of the night skies as a vast laboratory, where astronomers can explore the fundamental properties of matter and energy – such as quantum physics and the mysterious dark energy which is thought to make up most of the known universe. In 1964, Astronomy began on Mauna Kea when astronomer Gerard Kuiper conducted the first observations on Puu Poliahu, one of the summit’s highest cinder cones. Mitsuo Akiyama and other community leaders encouraged Governor John A. Burns to support astronomy and a gravel road to the Confidential: Earlybird & Friends page 1 of 12 version 10.03.05 Astronomy v6 – MK Tour page 2 of 12 summit was approved. 5 Graphic: 1989 footage 6 That first telescope was designed by Alika Herring. With a mirror only 12 inches across, it produced images that launched Mauna Kea as worldclass location for astronomy. Because it is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at 13,796 feet above sea level, Mauna Kea is surrounded by incredibly stable, dry, and clear air. There are no nearby mountain ranges to cause turbulence, and the volcano’s conical shape helps to smooth air currents. 7 Time lapse scene of cloud layers. On most days, a tropical inversion layer helps to keep moist air below the summit, and as the mountain cools before sunset, a convection effect pushes the cloud layer to lower altitudes. Mauna Kea’s percentage of cloudfree nights is one of the highest in the world. 8 This superb air quality causes less distortion and degradation of light as it passes through the atmosphere. But, there are other requirements for Confidential: Earlybird & Friends page 2 of 12 version 10.03.05 Astronomy v6 – MK Tour page 3 of 12 world-class astronomy. The Big Island of Hawaii provides the necessary modern infrastructure including airports, a large harbor, and medical facilities. At night, sodium vapor street lights preserve the island’s dark skies. 9 Scene of IFA astronomers GRAPHIC: Institute for Astronomy University of Hawaii Meanwhile, the University of Hawaii has become a world leader in the field of astronomy, and counts many top astronomers on its staff. The University also manages the Hale Pohaku facilities with slope side lodging for visiting astronomers and telescope technicians. 10 GRAPHICS: University of Hawaii 24-inch Telescope Mirror: .6 meters Type: Optical - Infrared First Light: 1968 11 Mauna Kea’s oldest operational telescope is the University of Hawaii 24-inch Telescope. Known for planetary research during its early years… the UH-24 first captured images to photographic film, before pioneering the use of infrared detectors. This telescope’s history has spanned the evolution of modern instruments - including CCD cameras, computer tracking systems, and detector arrays. 12 Confidential: Earlybird & Friends Today, UH-24 is primarily an page 3 of 12 version 10.03.05 Astronomy v6 – MK Tour page 4 of 12 educational facility for use by undergraduate students attending the University of Hawaii at Hilo. And soon, a one-meter telescope will replace it on the same location. 13 GRAPHICS: University of Hawaii 88-inch Telescope Mirror: 2.2 meters Type: Optical – Infrared - UV First Light: 1970 The University of Hawaii 88-inch Telescope proved that large, worldclass telescopes were feasible on Mauna Kea, in spite of high altitude and cold. Completed in 1970, it was one of the first telescopes to be operated by a computer system! 14 The UH-88 pioneered exploration of the Kuiper Belt – a vast band of asteroids and other small objects on the outskirts of our solar system. 15 16 And through the years, this telescope has been a test bed for cutting-edge instruments being developed by the University of Hawaii, and is now an essential part of the school’s postgraduate program. GRAPHICS: Canada-France-Hawaii-Telescope Mirror: 3.6 meters Type: Optical – Infrared First Light: 1979 Confidential: Earlybird & Friends Operated by an international consortium, the Canada-FranceHawaii-Telescope was considered by many astronomers to be the world’s premiere telescope when it launched in 1979. page 4 of 12 version 10.03.05 Astronomy v6 – MK Tour page 5 of 12 Since then, CFHT has remained at the forefront of modern astronomy, because of innovative instruments such as adaptive optics. AO compensates for distortions caused by the Earth’s atmosphere. By bouncing incoming light off a deformable mirror, the resulting clarity is comparable to space telescopes. 17 18 And, one of CFHT’s newest instruments, the MegaPrime, seen here mounted at the telescope’s prime position, can capture an incredibly high-resolution, wideangle view of the heavens. GRAPHICS: NASA Infrared Telescope Facility Mirror: 3 meters Type: Infrared First Light: 1979 19 The NASA Infrared Telescope Facility was launched in 1979 to support NASA’s space missions and research programs. Optimized for infrared wavelengths between 1 and 25 microns, the IRTF is especially well suited to observe the spectra from cooler objects. Significant contributions include the study of Io, one of Jupiter’s moons, where volcanic activity was observed. 20 Confidential: Earlybird & Friends Managed by the University of Hawaii, under contract to NASA, the IRTF spends half of its time page 5 of 12 version 10.03.05 Astronomy v6 – MK Tour page 6 of 12 looking at solar system objects – such as these cold spots on the Saturn. 21 GRAPHICS: United Kingdom Infrared Telescope Mirror: 3.8 meters Type: Infrared First Light: 1979 22 The United Kingdom Infrared Telescope is the world’s largest telescope designed solely for infrared astronomy. It can “see” the invisible heat radiations being emitted by the universe’s cooler objects. Operated by the Joint Astronomy Centre in Hilo, UKIRT is a great example of how telescopes continue to evolve and be competitive. 23 By developing advanced instrument technologies, the telescope has revolutionized infrared astronomy. One of its notable achievements is calculating the mass of quasars – super bright, extremely dense, and mysterious galaxies at the edge of the universe. 24 GRAPHICS: Caltech Submillimeter Observatory Dish: 10.4 meters Type: Submillimeter First Light: 1987 The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory features a 10.4 meter, segmented dish. Designed by the late Robert Leighton of CalTech, it is formed by 84 aluminum hexagons and can rotate with the dome to point nearly anywhere in the sky. The Leighton mirror looks at the Confidential: Earlybird & Friends page 6 of 12 version 10.03.05 Astronomy v6 – MK Tour page 7 of 12 submillimeter wavelengths of the spectrum – to give scientists a very different view than optical or infrared telescopes. 25 To capture these wavelengths, the CSO’s sensitive detectors are cooled to temperatures of liquid helium. 26 27 Mauna Kea’s extremely dry air is ideal for submillimeter observations, and has helped the CSO make ground-breaking studies of cold objects such as molecular clouds and planetary nebulae. GRAPHICS: James Clerk Maxwell Telescope Dish: 15 meters Type: Submillimeter First Light: 1987 28 29 The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope is the world’s largest, single-dish submillimeter telescope. When open, JCMT reveals the world’s largest piece of Gore-Tex, which is about 80% transparent to submillimeter radiation, and protects the telescope from wind and dust. Graphics: “SCUBA” Submillimeter Common User Bolo-meter Array Inside, one of its instruments is possibly the coldest place on Earth at only one-tenth of a degree above absolute zero. Called SCUBA, that detector captured an image showing dust clouds around the star Vega. Confidential: Earlybird & Friends page 7 of 12 version 10.03.05 Astronomy v6 – MK Tour 30 31 page 8 of 12 Because of its power to see very cold objects, JCMT is able to study how galaxies evolve, and how stars form from cooler clouds of interstellar dust and gas. GRAPHICS: Very Long Baseline Array Dish: 25 meters Type: Radio First Light: 1993 The Very Long Base Array consists of 10 identical antennas spanning North America from the Virgin Islands to Hawaii. Working together as one instrument 5,000 miles wide, each of the dishes are timed to each other within an accuracy of a few billionths of a second. 32 The VLBA’s resolution of one milliarcsecond is the sharpest of any telescope on Earth or in space. That is equivalent to reading a newspaper headline in Los Angeles – from New York City!! 33 34 Known for its studies of black holes and galactic centers, the VLBA has also been used to measure continental drift by referencing Earth’s land masses to celestial objects. GRAPHICS: W.M. Keck Observatory Mirrors: 10 meters each Type: Optical & Infrared First Light: 1992 & 1996 Confidential: Earlybird & Friends The Keck twins have the largest mirrors in the world for optical and infrared astronomy. page 8 of 12 version 10.03.05 Astronomy v6 – MK Tour page 9 of 12 At 10 meters wide, each mirror is formed by 36 hexagonal segments. A computer system of sensors and actuators control the segments and adjusts their positions twice every second – to an accuracy 1,000 times finer than a human hair. 35 Like other telescopes here, Keck uses adaptive optics. To make AO more versatile, the Keck Observatory has developed laser guide star technologies to create an artificial reference star. Not limited by natural bright stars, the Keck telescopes can use adaptive optics in more areas of the sky. 36 The Keck twins can also combine their light, using interferometry, to further increase their power. 37 With its two state-of-the-art telescopes, the Keck observatory had made many of the breakthrough discoveries of the past decade… …including explorations into the origins of our universe, and the search for new planets. 38 GRAPHICS: Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope Mirrors: 8.1 meters Type: Optical & Infrared First Light: 1999 Confidential: Earlybird & Friends The Gemini North telescope, with its identical twin in Chile, can cover the entire sky – both northern and southern hemispheres. page 9 of 12 version 10.03.05 Astronomy v6 – MK Tour 39 page 10 of 12 One of Gemini’s most noticeable features is the ability to open its mid-section to equalize the inside air to outside temperatures. And, the 8 meter telescope is so well engineered that a single person can push the 380 ton telescope, if the drive motors are disengaged. 40 Time lapse footage from Peter M. – GRAPHIC: 2004 41 Professional telescopes need to be resurfaced periodically, and it takes only 1/2 ounce of aluminum to cover the Gemini’s mirror. Here, a silver coating was applied for the first time. Gemini’s power is further enhanced by the development of its cameras – different types of detectors that can be swapped for specific observations. Still young in telescope years, Gemini has already made major discoveries and taken its place among the world’s elite telescopes. 42 GRAPHICS: Subaru Telescope Mirrors: 8.3 meters Type: Optical & Infrared First Light: 1999 Confidential: Earlybird & Friends Subaru, or the Pleiades star cluster, has been admired by the Japanese for over 1,000 years. Translated as “to tie together” – it is a fitting namesake for the Subaru Telescope – an international research facility. page 10 of 12 version 10.03.05 Astronomy v6 – MK Tour page 11 of 12 Visually striking, the Subaru is in a unique cylindrical enclosure designed to reduce air turbulence and reflect heat. 43 And, Subaru is the only telescope 8 meters or larger with a detector instrument in the prime focus position. This demands a sturdier support structure and yoke. But the highresolution, wide-angle-view is ideal for scanning large numbers of faint objects at the far edges of the solar system and of the universe itself. 44 GRAPHICS: Submillimeter Array Dishes: 6 meters each Type: Millimeter & submillimeter First Light: 2002 The newest addition to the summit is the Submillimeter Array, located in Mauna Kea’s “submillimeter valley”. Each of the eight 6-meter dishes can be placed on different pads in various patterns. With a special super computer to combine and compare the signals, SMA is a radio interferometer with customizable baselines from 8 to 500 meters. 45 46 Confidential: Earlybird & Friends The array structure enables a resolution of less than 1 arcsecond, with the ability to discern distinct objects that were previously unseen by single dish telescopes. Though just getting started - SMA page 11 of 12 version 10.03.05 Astronomy v6 – MK Tour page 12 of 12 has already contributed many important observations such as the formation of stars in Orion, a collision of two galaxies, and a detailed analysis of the weather on Mars. 47 48 Visual montage of telescopes on summit (music up & under) Mauna Kea may be the finest site for terrestrial astronomy – with exquisite air quality and the most advanced telescopes ever built. 49 As scientists explore the universal questions… How was the universe formed? Where did we come from? Is there other life out there? …Mauna Kea stands at the pinnacle of astronomy, and leads the search for answers. copyright Confidential: Earlybird & Friends page 12 of 12 version 10.03.05