Maunakea Observatories Response to Coronavirus Pandemic
Super-Jupiter Discovered in Kepler-88 System
May 1, 2020
Gemini Gets Lucky and Takes a Deep Dive Into Jupiter’s Clouds
May 19, 2020Maunakea Observatories prepares for phased reopening
The Maunakea Observatories are resuming operations, after nearly two months of suspended nightly science observations. This action follows Governor Ige’s 7th Supplementary Emergency Proclamation authorizing low-risk businesses to reopen, including the Observatories and support facilities.
The phased approach will restrict summit work to maximize social distancing and emphasize important hygiene practices. As always, the health and safety of our Observatory staff and the community is of paramount importance, and we will continue to follow all health guidelines from our state and local officials.
For detailed information on each observatory’s status, check their individual websites.
Supporting Hawai’i through STEM distance learning
The Maunakea Observatories will continue offering its virtual education program, MKO@Home. The program delivers videos, live events, learning materials, and activities to benefit students, teachers, and families reliant on distance learning and outreach programs. Free tutorials, seminars and downloadable materials can still be accessed at:
- www.maunakeaobservatories.org
- Facebook: Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee
- YouTube: Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee
Previous Update 31-Mar-2020
Maunakea Observatories Suspend Operations Due to COVID-19
The Maunakea Observatories have temporarily suspended telescope operations following Governor David Ige’s stay-at-home order issued March 23, 2020, aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
“The health and safety of our staff and community will always be our highest priority,” said Dr. Doug Simons, director of Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. “As one of the islands’ largest employers, we understand the necessity of doing whatever we can to stunt the spread of COVID-19. That’s why our teams are staying home.”
Supporting Hawai’i Through STEM Distance Learning
While scientific observations are on hold, the Maunakea Observatories have launched MKO@Home, an innovative public outreach effort for K-12 students and families, providing remote learning resources from the observatories’ expert scientists and educators.
Recognizing the unprecedented need to convert in-person learning to a virtual environment, the Maunakea Observatories education and outreach teams are launching new pilot initiatives three times a week, designed to provide innovative multimedia STEM learning opportunities to students and families for the duration of the stay-at-home order and beyond. Videos are available on the Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee’s YouTube channel.
US Department of State COVID-19 Travel advisories
CDC COVID-19 Travel Information and Risk Assessment of Countries
Related posts
Conceptual image. By observing a comet in thermal infrared wavelengths, the same wavelengths used by noncontact thermometers, it is possible to determine not only its current temperature, but also the surface composition of the nucleus which contains information about the thermal history of the comet. (Credit: Kyoto Sangyo University)
A view of the M87 supermassive black hole in polarized light. The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, who produced the first ever image of a black hole released in 2019, has today a new view of the massive object Pōwehi at the centre of the Messier 87 (M87) galaxy: how it looks in polarized light. This is the first time astronomers have been able to measure polarization, a signature of magnetic fields, this close to the edge of a black hole.This image shows the polarized view of the black hole in M87. The lines mark the orientation of polarization, which is related to the magnetic field around the shadow of the black hole. Credit: EHT