Modern History of Astronomy in Hawaii

– Günther Hasinger – Astrocoffee

–  IfA, September 11, 2015

Modern  History  of  Astronomy  in  Hawaii

“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

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

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…”

Venus Transit 2012: ~15000 Visitors at Waikiki Beach in Hawaii

Venus Transit 2012

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.

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

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

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)

Haleakala Observatory Today

July 31, 2015, courtesy Mike Maberry

Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope

Pan-STARRS Observatory PS1 & PS2

Maui Space Surveillance

Complex

(AEOS)

The devastating Tsunami of May 1960

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.

50 years of astronomy on Maunakea

August 26, 2014

Ellis Akiyama Kuiper

Gerard Kuiper & Governor Burns Mauna Kea 1964

Alika Herring

… a Native Hawaiian, polished the best mirrors of his time. He also was a master steel guitar player.

Alika Herring

… with his 12” telescope on Pu’u Poliahu

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

Mitsuo Akiyama, Mrs. Akiyama and Howard Ellis on Pu’u Poliahu

Jim Harwood and Alika Herring, preparing seeing measurements on various sites on Maunakea.

– 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

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.

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)

CFHT 1979 IRTF 1979 UKIRT 1979

CSO 1987 JCMT 1987 VLBA 1992

Keck 1993 & 1996 Gemini 1999 Subaru 1999

Two decades of rapid development

The Submillimeter Array (8 x 6m) 2002

MAUNAKEA OBSERVATORIES

Nights on Maunakea

Time lapse videos from Jason Chu, IfA graduate student

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Total Impact per Telescope (2015 – Courtesy D. Crabtree) – MAUNAKEA

– OBSERVATORIES

Importance of Maunakea Observatories to Astronomy

– Plot courtesy Markus Kissler-Patig

– Maunakea Observatories Total

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!

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)

TMT on Maunakea

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.

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.

Mahalo