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
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Hawaiian Skies: Kāʻelo 2026
The night sky is full of stories, lessons, and wisdom that have been passed down for generations. Leilehua Yuen takes us through these stories and more in her Hawaiian Skies series, guiding us through the moʻolelo of the constellations. Learn about the names of the stars in the sky during the Hawaiian month of Kāʻelo (January 19 - February 17), a month that shares its name with a star that is also known as Betelgeuse.
“Not Our Everyday Supernova”: Superluminous Supernova Brings Together Collaborators Across the World
A global team of researchers has coalesced around the discovery of one of the most distant, extremely bright supernovae ever found, highlighting the collaborative nature of modern astronomy. The unique benefits of Maunakea as a site for cosmos exploration and the unparalleled power of W.M. Keck Observatory’s instruments made this discovery possible.
A New Instrument to Rapidly Characterize Near-Earth Asteroids
A new instrument being built for NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility will help astronomers quickly study near-Earth asteroids, providing critical information about their composition and potential hazards.
Hawaiian Skies: Hikikauʻelia 2025
The night sky is full of stories, lessons, and wisdom that have been passed down for generations. Leilehua Yuen takes us through these stories and more in her Hawaiian Skies series, guiding us through the moʻolelo of the constellations. During the Hawaiian month of Hikikauʻelia (December 20 - January 18), Leilehua is taking us through the names of the stars and their meanings and uses, as well as sharing a chance for stargazing with your ʻohana on December 26!
Subaru and Keck Help Discover Two Rare Companions in Distant Solar Systems
As part of the new OASIS program, Subaru Telescope and W.M. Keck Observatory helped discover two rare companions orbiting distant stars — a giant planet, and a brown dwarf that could play a starring role in NASA’s new Roman Space Telescope.
Akamai Internship Kicks Off 2026 Recruitment Following Stellar 2025 Cohort
Applications are open for the 2026 Akamai Internship Program, a cornerstone of Hawaiʻi’s STEM workforce development for 22 years. In summer 2025, the program supported 33 interns, each matched with a Hawaiʻi-based observatory — including 15 at Maunakea Observatories — for an immersive internship experience. Step inside the 2025 cohort and learn about their innovation and impact at the Maunakea Observatories.
Maunakea Observatories Join in the Fun at AstroDay West 2025
Families and keiki got a chance to explore the cosmos at this year’s AstroDay West at Kona Commons, hosted by Maunakea Observatories.
Students in Hawaiʻi Name Mesmerizing Image Ua ʻŌhiʻa Lani for the International Gemini Observatory’s 25th Anniversary
To celebrate 25 years since the completion of the International Gemini Observatory, students in Hawai‘i voted for the Gemini North telescope to image NGC 6820 — a striking emission nebula and open star cluster. The image was named Ua ʻŌhiʻa Lani, which means the Heavenly ʻŌhiʻa Rains. The International Gemini Observatory is partly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by NSF NOIRLab.
Hawaiian Skies: Makaliʻi 2025
The night sky is full of stories, lessons, and wisdom that have been passed down for generations. Leilehua Yuen takes us through these stories and more in her Hawaiian Skies series, guiding us through the moʻolelo of the constellations. During the Hawaiian month of Makaliʻi (November 21 - December 19), Leilehua is sharing the story of Makaliʻi, the great navigator, diving into the many names given to the stars above us and their possible origins, and more.
James Clerk Maxwell Telescope Helps Discover 13 Distant, Dusty Galaxies
Utilizing the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) on Maunakea and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers confirmed the existence of 13 new strongly lensed, distant dusty galaxies — nearly an order of magnitude fainter than any detected before.
Gemini’s New Fall Journey Week Brings Hawai‘i Astronomy to Classrooms
This fall, more than 1,800 students across the Hilo-Waiākea School District learned about outer space and astronomy from 20 volunteer educators during Fall Journey Week. This weeklong educational series is the newest addition to the yearlong “Journey through the Universe” program led by the international Gemini Observatory, a program of NSF’s NOIRLab and the Department of Education Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area.
Pathways to the Cosmos: Mutuality in Astronomy
For the October edition of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach series, "Pathway to the Cosmos," Christine Matsuda, from the Maunakea Observatories, and Kelly Blumenthal, Director of the Office for Astronomy Outreach, sat down for a conversation titled "Mutuality in astronomy: Transforming astronomy through community."
Residents and Maunakea Observatories Staff Connect at the Tanabata Block Party
More than 700 people braved rainy weather to attend the second annual Tanabata Block Party at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Science & Technology Park. Attendees enjoyed facility tours, Japanese cultural performances, and appearances by special guests. The tours were a major highlight, allowing nearly 200 visitors to step inside the “office” of Hawai‘i’s astronomers.
Maunakea Shared Services: Making MKO Science Possible, Behind the Scenes
The Utilities and Food & Lodging teams of Maunakea Shared Services (MKSS) work tirelessly to provide services to the scientists who work and stay on the mauna each day. Their work is essential, but it is not something people necessarily see.
Hawaiian Skies: Welehu 2025
The night sky is full of stories, lessons, and wisdom that have been passed down for generations. During the Hawaiian month of Welehu (October 22 - November 20), we can see stories like that of Polo-ahilani, a chief who lost his vision, come to life above us. Leilehua Yuen, Gemini Observatory’s Hawaiʻi Culture and Language Resident, shares this story and more, guiding us through the moʻolelo of the constellations.
Maunakea Observatories Join UH Mānoa College of Engineering for Career Expo
The Maunakea Observatories joined the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa College of Engineering’s Career Expo in Honolulu. For the MKOs, the Career Expo is an important opportunity to connect with UH Mānoa Engineering students, raising awareness of the diversity of technical jobs within the observatories.
Hawaiian Skies: ʻIkuwā 2025
The Hawaiian month of ʻIkuwā (September 22 - October 21) has begun, its name meaning “noisy, clamorous, loud-voiced,” which is a fitting description for the weather we can see in our skies. As we transition from Mahoe Hope to ʻIkuwā, that same sky is full of stars that served as important navigational aids, as well as omens, portents, and signs. Leilehua Yuen, Gemini Observatory’s Hawaiʻi Culture and Language Resident, is sharing their stories and guiding us through the moʻolelo of the ʻIkuwā constellations.
Surprising New Images of Pōwehi Black Hole Unveiled
A series of three images of the supermassive black hole Pōwehi, taken in 2017, 2018, and the newest in 2021, shows surprising changes in the polarization patterns surrounding Pōwehi. Geoffrey Bower, Director of James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) on Maunakea, breaks down this discovery and gives a peek into what comes next.
Keck & CFHT Join Community Effort To Feed Keiki
This summer, W. M. Keck Observatory served as a hub of community care each Monday. Over 40 staff from both W. M. Keck Observatory and Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope (CFHT) came together once again to pack and distribute meal kits for children as part of the Kaukau 4 Keiki program, an initiative that has become a lifeline for many families across Hawaiʻi Island.
Hawaiian Skies: Māhoe Hope 2025
The night sky is full of stories, lessons, and wisdom that have been passed down for generations. During the Hawaiian month of Māhoe Hope (August 24 - September 21), we can see stories like that of Humu, a hoʻokele (steersman), and his two sons come to life above us. Leilehua Yuen, Gemini Observatory’s Hawaiʻi Culture and Language Resident, shares this story and more, guiding us through the moʻolelo of the constellations.