Behind every astronomical discovery are the stories and experiences of the people who made it possible. Explore the latest from across the Maunakea Observatories.
STORIES
Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope’s MegaCam Helps Discover 128 New Saturnian Moons
The Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope (CFHT) played an integral role in discovering 128 new moons of Saturn, which were recognized by the International Astronomical Union on March 11, 2025. CFHT was able to collect this data thanks to MegaCam, a wide-field-of-view imager. Dr. Heather Flewelling, a CFHT instrument scientist, provided a behind-the-scenes look at the technology and process behind the discovery.
Maunakea Scholars Students Go to the International Science Fair
Every spring, students from around the world gather for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. This year’s fair took place on May 10-16th in Columbus, Ohio. Among the Hawaiʻi students participating was Kai Greenlee, a senior at Kealakehe High School.
New CFHT-Asahi StarCam Brings Live Views of Maunakea to the World
Since 2021, the Subaru-Asahi StarCam has provided a 24/7 livestream of the eastern side of Maunakea for viewers. Now, a new livestream is offering an additional view from the new CFHT-Asahi StarCam thanks to a partnership between the Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope (CFHT) and Asahi Shimbun.
Nānā ao: Maunakea Observatories’ New Instrument
Nānā ao, “watcher of clouds” in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian), is a new instrument that will be shared by the Maunakea observatories to facilitate the detection of oncoming banks of clouds by our nighttime observers.
2024 Waimea Solar System Walk & 45th Anniversary of Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope
On October 26, the Maunakea Observatories hosted its 2024 Waimea Solar System Walk in Waimea Town on Hawai‘i Island. This free, family-friendly event took participants on an engaging journey through the solar system, beginning at the W. M. Keck Observatory headquarters and concluding at the Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope (CFHT) offices.
Mary Beth Laychak Wins 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award
In recognition of her unwavering commitment to educating the next generation of astronomers, Mary Beth Laychak has been honored with the 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award. Mary Beth is the Director of Communications and Community Engagement at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and leads several programs within the Maunakea Observatories community.