Learn about care and feeding of Keck telescopes

Learn about Keck telescopes

Andrew Cooper of Keck Observatory will take the audience behind the scenes at Keck at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at the next The Universe Tonight program at The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station on Mauna Kea.

“When most people think of the great observatories, it is images of stars and galaxies that come to mind. We think of discoveries, of vast distances and timescales that dwarf human imagination. These discoveries do not come easily; they are made possible by the enormous telescopes and sophisticated instruments of a modern observatory,” said Cooper.

“Maintaining these great machines is a staff of dedicated people — engineers, programmers, technicians, electricians, welders and mechanics,” said Cooper. “These are the people who make it possible, whose hard work has revealed a vast and wondrous universe.

The operations staff of Keck Observatory is tasked with keeping the telescopes on-sky every night. The men and women who repair and maintain two 10-meter telescopes, prepare the equipment for each night of observations.

“Changing instruments, replacing dome bogie wheels, filling cryo and daily inspections — there’s an endless list of tasks that must be done,” he said. “Come join us and get a glimpse into the operations of Keck Observatory and the lives of the maintenance crew who commute to the summit every day.”

The Universe Tonight is a free presentation on the first Saturday of every month, when a member of the Mauna Kea astronomy community shares mana’o and research with the public. For more information, please call the Visitor Information Station at 961-2180, or visit www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis.