#James Webb Space Telescope
Distinct origins of two outermost rings of Uranus uncovered by new study
Researchers with the help of a Mauna Kea observatory on the Big Island construct first complete spectrum of the two distinct rings orbiting around the seventh planet in the solar system, revealing composition and formation history.
Keck Observatory observes first gravitationally lensed superluminous supernova
Astronomers have discovered the first-ever spatially resolved, gravitationally lensed superluminous supernova. The object, dubbed SN 2025wny, offers a rare look at a stellar cataclysm from the early Universe and provides a striking confirmation of Einstein’s theory of general relativity. The discovery relied on a chain of cutting-edge observatories collaborating on scientific breakthroughs.
UH astronomer helps capture shape of Supernova explosion as massive star dies
Astronomers have captured one of the universe’s most dramatic moments – the instant a massive star exploded and the blast broke through the star’s surface. A University of Hawaiʻi astronomer was part of the international team that raced to record and study the supernova in real time.
Keck Observatory data reveals a dead star still consuming its planetary system
Astronomers using data from the W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea in Hawaiʻi Island have identified a rare, ancient planetary system still being actively consumed by its central white dwarf star, LSPM J0207+3331.
Keck Observatory helps unravel mystery behind rare cosmic X-ray bursts
An international team of astrophysicists using W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaiʻi Island have uncovered a possible origin of fast X-ray transients (FXTs) — mysterious, fleeting bursts of X-rays that have long puzzled astronomers.
UH88 telescope earns global honor
UH reports that innovations developed or tested by the UH88 have shaped astronomy worldwide and include breakthrough digital imaging, adaptive optics and the HAWAII near-infrared detectors used on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
Astronomers atop Maunakea detect cloud convection near Titan’s lakes
A new study conducted on Maunekea, Hawaiʻi Island, provides evidence of clouds bubbling up over Titan’s northern hemisphere.
Keck Observatory helps identify possible triple system in Kuiper Belt
A team of researchers using data from W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaiʻi Island, and NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has likely discovered a stable trio of icy space rocks in the solar system’s Kuiper Belt. If confirmed, the 148780 Altjira system would be the second known three-body system in the region, suggesting similar triples may exist and supporting a theory about the solar system’s history and early formation of Kuiper Belt objects.
US scientists discover fastest-feeding black hole in the early Universe
“This black hole is having a feast,” said astronomer Julia Scharwächter.
$4M NASA grant to help UH researchers develop new sensors to observe distant planets
This new mission aims to unambiguously identify and classify about 25 Earth-like exoplanets to determine if they possess atmospheres suitable for life. The UH team will provide the sensors for that project.
NASA’s historic space telescope features groundbreaking UH-designed sensors
After NASA launches the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) on a historic mission this month, scientists anticipate their first glimpses of the most distant objects ever seen in the universe using UH-designed sensors.
UH Leads International Star Study Using NASA’s New $10 Billion Space Telescope
Chris Ashall, a postdoctoral researcher with the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, will lead an international team of 30 plus scientists to focus on dying stars during the flagship mission of NASA’s $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope.
