The University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy Initiates Decommissioning of UKIRT

UKIRT and the sunset (2015) - Courtesy of Jason Chu

The University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) has officially initiated the decommissioning process for the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) on Maunakea. UKIRT is the third telescope to be decommissioned, reaffirming UH’s commitment to responsible stewardship and restoration of these sites on Maunakea. 

With this announcement, UH will start the process of decommissioning UKIRT in accordance with the protocols established in the Decommissioning Plan for the Maunakea Observatories. The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship will engage the Hawaiʻi Island community and work closely with the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA) throughout the process. 

Originally operated by the UK’s science agencies, UKIRT opened its doors in 1979 and began its long life as one of the most powerful ground-based facilities for dedicated observations at infrared wavelengths. Over the decades, scientists have used UKIRT to make remarkable contributions to scientific advancement, helping cement Hawaiʻi as a global center of astronomical research. 

Through the 1990s, UKIRT was progressively upgraded, greatly improving image quality to make best use of the exceptional Maunakea seeing, enhancing observing efficiency, and fully preparing the telescope for new instrumentation deliveries through the late 1990s and early 2000s. This secured its position as the most productive infrared telescope in the world. 

In 2004, scientists at UKIRT began their largest undertaking to date with the Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS). Using a wide-field imager (WFCAM), the survey aimed to cover a large 7,500 square degrees of the Northern sky with five projects:

  • Large Area Survey (LAS)

  • Galactic Plane Survey (GPS)

  • Galactic Clusters Survey (GCS)

  • Deep Extragalactic Survey (DXS)

  • Ultra Deep Survey (UDS)

Nearly 100 astronomers comprised the UKIDSS Consortium, dedicating their time to designing and executing the survey. While doing so, they started a long-term astronomical legacy database, providing the world with swaths of data for further research. 

Since ownership of the telescope was transferred to IfA in 2014, most of the research conducted at UKIRT was supported by the US Naval Observatory (USNO) and focused on completing an all-sky multiwavelength infrared survey called FRAMEx. The FRAMEx survey is being used to generate a large public database that enables a range of astrophysical research. It also improves the accuracy of the Celestial Reference Frame, which is used to calibrate global spatial measurements (e.g., GPS). The survey is ongoing while decommissioning activities commence, the first 2-3 years of which nominally involve acquiring permits, community consultation, contracting, and more, before any site work begins. 

When the time comes for the removal of the telescope, UH plans to follow the precedent set by the decommissioning of the Caltech Submillimeter and UH Hilo Hōkū Keʻa Observatories. Native Hawaiian protocol will be carefully integrated into each step of the process, along with training to ensure that deconstruction and restoration honor the cultural and environmental significance of the site. 

The legacy of UKIRT is the result of decades of effort from hundreds of scientists, engineers, and administrators, and as UKIRT winds down science operations, we will celebrate all that they’ve been able to accomplish. This chapter of research on Maunakea will close with the completion of the USNO deep sky survey and UKIRT’s removal, as a new chapter that uplifts cultural, environmental, educational, and research interests, all grounded in the local community, is unfolding. 

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