News feed from the Thirty Meter Telescope, Astronomy's Next-Generation Observatory. /news?format=xml TIO is excited to announce the successful completion of the Secondary Mirror Metrology & Polishing Final Design Review. Engineering & Technology /news/715 /news/715 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT Optics team is excited to announce the successful completion of the ITCC’s Stress Mirror Polishing Fabrication Readiness Review (FRR). Engineering & Technology /news/714 /news/714 Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT Laser Guide Star Facility (LGSF) team is excited to announce the successful completion of their Final Design Review 1. The review was held at the TIO Project Office on January 21-22, 2026 and included both in-person and remote attendees. Engineering & Technology /news/712 /news/712 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 A new collection of international white papers submitted to “ESO Expanding Horizons: Transforming Astronomy in the 2040s” showcases the extraordinary scientific potential of a 30–40 meter class Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in the Northern Hemisphere and highlights the unique contribution the Thirty Meter Telescope would make to global astronomy. Science & Astronomy /news/711 /news/711 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO) is pleased to announce the successful completion of Final Design Review–1 (FDR-1) for the InfraRed Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), held on December 8–9, 2025. Engineering & Technology /news/710 /news/710 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 TMT is exploring a promising avenue for a new observatory based in Spain. TMT Partner News /news/708 /news/708 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO) is pleased to announce that the Multi-Object Diffraction-limited High-resolution Infrared Spectrograph (MODHIS) has successfully completed its Conceptual Design Review (CoDR). Engineering & Technology /news/706 /news/706 Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO) is delighted to announce the successful completion of the Preliminary Design Review 1 (PDR-1) for the Wide Field Optical Spectrograph (WFOS), held on August 7–8, 2025, at the TIO Project Office in Pasadena, California, and via Zoom. Engineering & Technology /news/707 /news/707 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 The Tertiary Mirror Support System and Positioner Assembly (M3SSPA) has now successfully completed its Preliminary Design Phase after the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) was held at NOIRLab in Tucson, Arizona on August 11–12, 2025. Engineering & Technology /news/705 /news/705 Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 TIO team members attended last week’s conference on the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO; a NASA missoin designed to look for signs of life on planets orbiting other stars), where they shared insights on segmented mirror technology and next-generation instrumentation. Education & Outreach /news/703 /news/703 Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 We remain committed to securing the best possible site and will evaluate Spain’s offer thoroughly and promptly. /news/702 /news/702 Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Engineers and scientists over at the National Research Council in Canada are busy preparing some very special pizza boxes for TMT. But forget pepperoni, these boxes are packed with high-tech electronics that control TMT’s highly advanced adaptive optics system, NFIRAOS. /news/701 /news/701 Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 The work on the secondary mirror polishing for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) has begun. /news/700 /news/700 Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Spain’s Science Minister invited TMT to consider relocating to La Palma as the project evaluates the most suitable location for its next-generation observatory. /news/698 /news/698 Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope Secondary Mirror support and positioner assembly design is now complete Engineering & Technology /news/696 /news/696 Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 TIO sends staff to attend the summer national meetings. Education & Outreach /news/695 /news/695 Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 If we do nothing, Europe will lead in the South and China in the North. We have led astronomy and astrophysics for 100 years to very good effect. This is not the moment to lose U.S. leadership. /news/693 /news/693 Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) 91制片厂官网 Observatory is one of the most compelling opportunities for discovery in this generation for the United States to demonstrate global leadership in astronomy, and for partnerships with communities desiring to shape the future jointly. /news/692 /news/692 Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 TIO staff enjoyed their time at AstroDay Hilo. Education & Outreach /news/689 /news/689 Sun, 04 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 TMT data mangement team passed their final design review for the data management system. /news/677 /news/677 Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 The US-ELTP's response to the NSF's US-ELTP External Evaluation Panel Report. TMT Partner News /news/676 /news/676 Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 TIO staff attend the graduate student event at UCLA to explain TMT engienering and science to the next generation of scientists and engineers. Education & Outreach /news/675 /news/675 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Timelapse videos of the testing of the segment support assembly. Engineering & Technology /news/674 /news/674 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 TIO staff attend the US-ELTP booth at the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers conference. Education & Outreach /news/672 /news/672 Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 TIO passed the final design review of systems designed to cool the telescope and instruments during operations. Engineering & Technology /news/673 /news/673 Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 TIO's released its scientific vision for the future: the 2024 Detailed Science Case. /announcement/670 /announcement/670 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 The Alignment and Phasing System (APS) team has progressed to the Final Design stage after successfully completing the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the APS Optical Bench and Instrument Control System (ICS). Engineering & Technology /news/669 /news/669 Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO) successfully completed a design review for a critical component of the primary mirror segment control system. Engineering & Technology /news/667 /news/667 Fri, 23 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 The TIO Secondary Mirror Support System and Positioner Assembly team successfully completed its Preliminary Design Review on 2024 July 15–17. Engineering & Technology /news/660 /news/660 Mon, 12 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 TIO quotes about Ed Stone, fhe first executive director of TIO. /news/658 /news/658 Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Caltech announces the physical decommissioning of the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory from Maunakea. https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/caltechs-submillimeter-observatory-has-been-removed-from-maunakea https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/caltechs-submillimeter-observatory-has-been-removed-from-maunakea Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 The TIO Monrovia Lab has recently received significant shipments of 140 warping harness cables and eight segment actuators from India TMT Coordination Center (ITCC). Engineering & Technology /news/654 /news/654 Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 TIO mourns the death of its founding executive director.? https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/edward-stone-1936-2024 https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/edward-stone-1936-2024 Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Recently, Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems (AMOS) in Belgium and TIO conducted a remote kick-off meeting for the preliminary design of the Tertiary Mirror Support System and Positioner Assembly (M3SSPA). Engineering & Technology /news/647 /news/647 Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 A Japanese delegation recently visited the India TMT Optics Fabrication Facility (ITOFF) in Bengaluru, India, where they were introduced to the newly installed polishing equipment at the Indian site. TMT Partner News /news/645 /news/645 Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 TMT and all US Extremely Large Telescope Program partners participated in the National Science Teaching Association conference in Denver in March 2024. Education & Outreach /news/643 /news/643 Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 ... "As recent U.S. physics Nobel laureates for discoveries in astronomy, we affirm that yes, the United States’ longstanding scientific leadership in astronomy is at risk if the National Science Foundation does not invest in its Extremely Large Telescope Program — and soon." /news/642 /news/642 Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Once again this year, TIO was prepared for an extraordinary scientific adventure at the PUSD Science Fest, hosted at John Muir High School on Saturday 16 March 2024. Education & Outreach /news/640 /news/640 Tue, 19 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 The STEAM networking Gala, organized by Pasadena City College on Friday 8 March, served as a new platform for students to gain valuable exposure to the diverse range of career paths and opportunities available within the STEM fields. Education & Outreach /news/639 /news/639 Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 In a significant development for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO), Glen Cole, former lead optical fabrication engineer at TIO, recently visited the India-TMT Optics Fabrication Facility (ITOFF) in Bengaluru, India. Engineering & Technology /news/638 /news/638 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Today, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO) announces the completion of its 100th mirror segment. Ultimately, TIO will mosaic 492 of these segments to form an extremely large mirror 30 meters in diameter. This mirror will be the core component of the largest optical telescope in the Northern Hemisphere. Engineering & Technology /news/636 /news/636 Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 The National Science Plan announces its support plan for the U.S. Extremely Large Telescope Program. /news/635 /news/635 Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 The County of Hawai?i’s Sister City Program, in partnership with the Thirty Meter Telescope 91制片厂官网 Observatory, has launched a new initiative to promote cultural learning and exchanges between high school students, with an emphasis on sharing Hawaiian culture and knowledge. Community Engagement /news/634 /news/634 Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 The Multi-Objective Diffraction-limited High-resolution Infrared Spectrograph (MODHIS) team recently conducted a midterm conceptual design review at the TMT Project Office in Pasadena on 30 January 2024. Led by Principal Investigator Dimitri Mawet (Caltech), co-Principal Investigator Michael Fitzgerald (UCLA), and Project Scientist Quinn Konopacky (UCSD), the MODHIS team showcased significant updates regarding MODHIS's design and expected performance. Engineering & Technology /news/632 /news/632 Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Congratulations to Journey Through the Universe for 20 stellar years! Education & Outreach /news/631 /news/631 Fri, 09 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Celebrating its 20th consecutive year on Hawai?i Island, the flagship Journey Through the Universe program brings the Universe to students and the community in early February 2024. Education & Outreach /news/630 /news/630 Tue, 30 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 On 10 November 2023, Angelic Ebbers, TMT’s lead controls software engineer spearheaded a hands-on engineering activity at the TMT booth during the Girl Scouts of Hawai'i STEM Fest. The goal of this annual event is to inspire and encourage young women to pursue educational paths and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Education & Outreach /news/628 /news/628 Thu, 07 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT Laser Guide Star Facility has successfully completed its Preliminary Design Review and is advancing to the Final Design Phase. The review was held on 8–9 November 2023 at the TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory Project Office and was conducted by a panel consisting of external and internal experts. Engineering & Technology /news/627 /news/627 Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 A kickoff meeting was recently held for the TMT Secondary Mirror Support System and Positioner Assembly (M2SSP), a critical subsystem of the TMT Observatory. Responsible for safely supporting and adjusting the rigid body motion of the secondary mirror (M2), the M2SSP encompasses all of the secondary mirror system hardware, minus the mirror itself, as well as the controls and safety systems. Engineering & Technology /news/626 /news/626 Thu, 16 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 The women of TMT were honored to participate in the Society of Women Engineers SWE23 Conference held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, CA from 26 to 28 October, 2023. Education & Outreach /news/swe23 /news/swe23 Fri, 03 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 A science workshop called TMT eArly Career Centered, Engineers-Scientists Synergy (TMT–ACCESS) was held at TMT headquarters in Pasadena from 11 to 15 September. 91制片厂官网 30 early career astronomers and engineers from Japan attended this workshop face-to-face, learned about TMT's capabilities and discussed TMT science cases. Science & Astronomy /news/622 /news/622 Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 The United States Extremely Large Telescope Program (US-ELTP) today announced it has received $15.3 million from the National Science Foundation to support further design and development of advanced optical technologies and user services. The funding consists of one-year awards of $2.3 million to NSF’s NOIRLab managed by AURA, and $6.5 million each to the organizations building the Giant Magellan Telescope and the Thirty Meter Telescope. /news/621 /news/621 Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Coherent installs an advanced ultrasonic machine tool to speed hexing of the 1.5?m diameter Thirty Meter Telescope mirror segments. Engineering & Technology /news/620 /news/620 Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 On 18 July 2023, Sergio Salata,?Astronomy Project Manager of Added Value Solutions (AVS) in Tenerife, visited the TMT office to tell us about the astronomy projects and other science equipment development projects the AVS company had been involved with. His short talk and discussions with project staff covered astronomy instrumentation, cooling, cryostats, opto-mechanics and other topics of relevance to TMT development. Education & Outreach /news/618 /news/618 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 An important component of TMT’s Primary Mirror Control Sensing System and the Alignment and Phasing System is progressing to its final design and qualification stage: the sensor dust boots. Engineering & Technology /news/616 /news/616 Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Exciting news out of India: TMT’s Primary Mirror Segment Polishing and Metrology Equipment have been successfully installed in the India-TMT Optics Fabrication Facility. The Stress Mirror Polishing machines and metrology tools involved in the production of TMT’s aspherical polished mirrors (aka roundels) were shipped to India to be installed and tested over several months. TMT Partner News /news/615 /news/615 Tue, 04 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 The One Sky Project, led by the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center and sponsored by the Thirty Meter Telescope, has produced a series of seven short fulldome films and a compiled full-length feature film focusing on cultural and Indigenous astronomy. This international collaboration seeks to build cross-cultural connections and increase understanding of different indigenous perspectives while demonstrating how our one sky connects us all. The films, which received accolades in 2022 and 2023, are now free to download to planetariums around the world. Education & Outreach /news/603 /news/603 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT Refrigeration Cooling System (REFR) will proceed to the Preliminary Design phase next year after successfully passing its Conceptual Design Review closeout meeting on May 3, 2023. Engineering & Technology /news/614 /news/614 Tue, 06 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 How will TMT make its 492 primary mirror segments behave as a single mirror of 30 meter diameter? TMT’s Alignment and Phasing System (APS) team has come up with the solution that will keep all of TMT’s mirrors aligned to a high precision of about 10 nm root-mean-square (RMS). Engineering & Technology /news/613 /news/613 Fri, 02 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Following the first Science webinar held in January 2023 and providing a status update of the Thirty-Meter-Telescope (TMT) project, the TMT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) and TMT project organized last month a second webinar, this time about the science instruments capabilities of TMT. Science & Astronomy /news/609 /news/609 Fri, 19 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Closely following the international Astronomy Day celebration, Hilo AstroDay was hosted at Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo, to share the joy of astronomy and knowledge with local communities on Saturday 6 May. Education & Outreach /news/612 /news/612 Tue, 16 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 On Sunday, 23 April 2023, the Institute for Astronomy (IfA) at UH-Mānoa hosted its annual Open House. With participation from various Hawai?i astronomy, science and technology organizations, volunteers at the event engaged ?ohana with educational activities featuring black holes, spectroscopy, radio telescopes, tiny satellites and more. Education & Outreach /news/611 /news/611 Fri, 12 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT Outreach Team had a great time connecting with families and students of all ages at the recent Pasadena Unified School District’s (PUSD’s) Science Fest 2023! Held annually, the event is open to the public and provides opportunities to learn about science, technology, engineering, health, environment and the myriad of activities taking place all around our local area. Education & Outreach /news/608 /news/608 Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 TMT’s Optics and M1 Segment Support Assemblies (SSA) is ready to enter production following a successful Fabrication Readiness Review that assessed the production of the hardware required to support the primary mirror segments. Larsen and Toubro (L&T), which is supplying the SSAs, is now one step closer to start production and shall proceed with the procurement of raw material. Engineering & Technology /news/607 /news/607 Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 On April 20, 2023, TMT participated in the “Girls in Future Technologies” event at Walnut High School in the suburbs of LA. Hosted by the Women of AT&T, the goal of “Girls in Future Technologies” is to encourage girls to pursue education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and achieve their personal and professional objectives. Education & Outreach /news/606 /news/606 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 TMT’s telescope structure subsystem (STR) recently completed two successful Production Readiness Reviews (PRR2 and PRR3) to assess the availability of adequate resources and planning for production, and later for assembly, integration and verification. The STR’s design and future fabrication are activities led by NAOJ and their prime contractor Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) in Japan. Engineering & Technology /news/604 /news/604 Thu, 23 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Nineteen Caltech Planet Finder Academy high school students from across the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) recently visited the TMT Lab in Monrovia. TMT System Scientist Warren Skidmore welcomed the group and ran a special workshop for the students. Education & Outreach /news/602 /news/602 Tue, 21 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 TMT staff interest in astronomy goes well beyond building one of the largest and most technology-advanced ground-based telescopes! Tomas Chylek, Sr. Opto-Mechanical Engineer, and Denis Zaytsev, Observatory Software QA Engineer, are also skilled amateur astronomers who spend endless nights capturing the beauty of our sky by setting up their telescopes and cameras within the darkest regions surrounding Los Angeles. Science & Astronomy /news/600 /news/600 Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 The second TMT India roundel has been completed! The roundel was polished at the Coherent facilities in Richmond, California by the India TMT Coordination Centre (ITCC) staff, using ITCC equipment under the supervision of Coherent’s staff. Engineering & Technology /news/597 /news/597 Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 TMT is currently accepting applications for its 91制片厂官网 Science Development Teams (ISDTs) until March 1, 2023. Science & Astronomy /news/596 /news/596 Fri, 27 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Holiday wishes from all of us at TMT! Science & Astronomy /news/592 /news/592 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 A few months ago, TMT Optical engineers traveled to the Netherlands to support the Dutch company TNO install a TMT Segment Support Assembly (SSA) onto an SSA Module Acceptance Test Tool (SMATT). This is an important step in the design and construction of the M1 optics system, a 492-segment primary mirror for the TMT.? Engineering & Technology /news/586 /news/586 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000 The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) presented its first in-person Exploring Your Universe (EYU) science fair in three years on November 6, 2022. 91制片厂官网 12,000 visitors of all ages and backgrounds came to UCLA from the greater LA community. Education & Outreach /news/585 /news/585 Wed, 16 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000 AstroDay 2022, led by the University of Hawai‘i’s Institute for Astronomy (IfA), is dedicated to sharing the amazing science of astronomy and the incredible discoveries made by telescopes throughout the state of Hawai?i. The IfA brought together the Maunakea Observatories and various other organizations for a fun filled day engaging ?ohana in Kailua-Kona. Community Engagement /news/584 /news/584 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000 TMT’s Multi-Objective Diffraction-limited High-resolution Infrared Spectrograph (MODHIS), a first-light instrument, has successfully completed the first phase of its conceptual design. MODHIS will take advantage of the large collecting area and TMT’s unprecedented angular resolution to dramatically advance a broad range of science programs, such as the search and characterization of exoplanets, the study of the environment of supermassive black holes at the center of the Milky Way and more distant galaxies, and the composition and dynamics of large solar system bodies. Science & Astronomy /news/582 /news/582 Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000 The teams working on TMT’s Segment Handling System (SHS) and utility system design received some good news following a series of critical review meetings earlier this spring. The TMT Telescope Structure Subsystem (STR) and Summit Facility (SUM) groups conducted the reviews and based on the outcome, the teams mays now proceed independently with the final design of their systems toward production preparation. Engineering & Technology /news/581 /news/581 Wed, 12 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000 The National Science Foundation (NSF) today issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and to initiate?Section 106 consultation for a potential NSF investment?in the construction and operation of the Thirty Meter Telescope. /news/nsf-begins-environmental-review /news/nsf-begins-environmental-review Tue, 19 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 India-TMT and industry partners Larsen and Toubro (L&T) successfully manufactured and assembled the first TMT Segment Support Assembly (SSA) in L&T Coimbatore facility. Hard work paid off and India-TMT successfully passed an Assembly Readiness Review a few weeks ago, presenting their first and recently assembled TMT SSA, including all separate compliant components, which are about 450 precision parts. Engineering & Technology /news/568 /news/568 Mon, 09 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000 As part of its ongoing outreach and educational activities, TMT participated in the annual Science Festival of Eliot Arts Magnet School on Saturday, April 23rd. The event provided a unique opportunity to learn about science, technology, engineering, robotics, health, and environmental activities taking place in Pasadena. Education & Outreach /news/567 /news/567 Mon, 02 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Dr. Robert P. Kirshner, Chief Program Officer for Science at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Clowes Professor of Science emeritus at Harvard University, has been named TIO Executive Director, effective May 15, 2022. /news/robert-p-kirshner-named-tio-executive-director-edward-c-stone-announces-retirement-from-tio /news/robert-p-kirshner-named-tio-executive-director-edward-c-stone-announces-retirement-from-tio Wed, 27 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Journey Through the Universe (Journey), one of the leading astronomy education and outreach programs on Hawai?i Island, recently brought together students and teachers with astronomers, engineers and STEM professionals. Education & Outreach /news/565 /news/565 Mon, 11 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000 TMT’s Wide-Field Optical Spectrometer (WFOS), one of its three first-light instruments, successfully completed its Conceptual Design Review in February 2022. This review completed the conceptual design phase and ushered WFOS into its Preliminary Design Phase. Engineering & Technology /news/564 /news/564 Thu, 07 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Mrs Rajalakshmi Narayanan and Chhaya Yadav are both working on the TMT software team in India. /blog/560 /blog/560 Tue, 15 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000 The fabrication of TMT’s primary mirror segments at Coherent Inc. in California continues to progress well. To date, a total of 19 M1 polished roundels have been delivered to TMT’s secure warehouse facility for storage. Engineering & Technology /news/559 /news/559 Wed, 19 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000 One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about working on TMT has been the opportunity to do educational outreach at local schools. For example, over the past few weeks I’ve been teaching astrobiology at an elementary school. So, I’m always on the lookout for interesting and novel education materials to help convey the excitement of astronomy to the next generation. /blog/557 /blog/557 Thu, 09 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Dr. Fengchuan Liu has been named project manager of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), where he will lead the observatory design and development. He most recently served as acting project manager and was also the deputy project manager from 2015 to 2020. He is currently based in Hilo on Hawaii Island. /news/556 /news/556 Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 TMT was pleased to join the Maunakea Observatories in celebrating AstroDay on November 14, 2021 at Kona Commons Shopping Center in Kona. AstroDay continues to be a leading community outreach program for the observatories. This time around, the AstroDay celebration event was back “in-person,” with its share of free, family-friendly astronomy activities. Education & Outreach /news/554 /news/554 Thu, 18 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 The decadal survey for astronomy and astrophysics is a powerful study that our community uses to drive strategy and vision for the next decade of federally funded transformative science. The 2020 report, Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s (Astro2020), was published by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine on 4 November 2021. We are honored that the community, via the decadal survey, has ranked the US Extremely Large Telescope Program (US-ELTP) as the highest ground-based priority in Pathways to Discovery. Astro2020 Decadal Survey /news/544 /news/544 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Today, the National Academies released the Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey (Astro2020) with its recommendations for implementing a strategy and vision for the coming decade of U.S. Astronomy & Astrophysics frontier research. Astro2020 Decadal Survey /news/543 /news/543 Thu, 04 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Henry Yang, Board Chair, Thirty Meter Telescope 91制片厂官网 Observatory, issued the following statement in response to today’s release of the Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s Decadal Survey: Astro2020 Decadal Survey /news/550 /news/550 Thu, 04 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 The coating chamber that will provide the required highly reflective thin and uniform coating to both TMT’s Secondary and Tertiary Mirrors (M2 and M3, respectively) recently passed its conceptual design review. The conceptual design and scope of the Secondary and Tertiary Mirrors Coating Facility (M2M3 COAT) was executed and developed by India TMT Coordination Centre (ITCC), via contract with Hind High Vacuum (HHV) headquartered in Bengaluru, India. Engineering & Technology /news/542 /news/542 Thu, 21 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Our colleagues in India are making the mechanical supports for the segments of the primary mirror. What are the key requirements of each segment support assembly (SSA)? As described elsewhere on this blog, the glass segments have to be positioned very precisely relative to each other, and also supported in a way that doesn't generate stress and deformation at the attachment points. /blog/540 /blog/540 Wed, 13 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000 ??????, ????? ????????? ??? ????????????? ???? ????? TMT ??????????? ????? (????????) ??? ????????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ????????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? TMT ?????????? ????????? ?? ????? ??????? ? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??? /blog/539 /blog/539 Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000 TMT recently achieved a major project milestone, with a review Board, mainly composed of external reviewers, concluding that its plans for Observatory Operations, Commissioning and Data-Management (OCDM) have reached sufficient maturity at this stage of the project design. Concretely, this positive preliminary review means that TMT’s operations plans are ready for the next rounds of Project reviews, which will assess not only operations but also all programmatic aspects, such as schedule, cost, risks, and technical maturity. Science & Astronomy /news/538 /news/538 Fri, 01 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000 The successful production of TMT polished glass-ceramic (M1 roundels) is ramping up according to plan. Engineering & Technology /news/503 /news/503 Wed, 08 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 TMT's family and friends helping at the Hilo Food Basket. Community Engagement /news/502 /news/502 Tue, 07 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 TMTのラビンダー?バーティア(Ravinder Bhatia)副プロジェクトマネジャーが国立天文台の林左絵子准教授をインタビューしました。英語版では2人が向かい合って話していますが、日本語版ではそのやりとりの内容に合わせて、林が話しています。いずれもパンデミック前の録画のため、特段の感染症対策を要しなかった時期のものです。 /blog/501 /blog/501 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Volunteering and working together is important at TMT. TMT would like to thank everyone for all the donations of activities and goodies for the keiki and families in need of help. Community Engagement /news/500 /news/500 Fri, 13 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Diana Bisel’s volunteer work for the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center East Hawaii (FCJCEastHawaii) Community Engagement /news/499 /news/499 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Last month, I talked with the India-TMT Optics team and one of their industrial partners, Optica. We discussed their work for TMT’s primary mirror, for which India is providing 84 of the 492 pieces of polished glass ceramic. /blog/497 /blog/497 Thu, 22 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Meet the team behind TMT - Associate Professor Saeko Hayashi /blog/496 /blog/496 Thu, 01 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 The production of TMT’s primary mirrors in North America is progressing very well. Several polished glass-ceramic roundels are currently in production at the Coherent manufacturing facilities; three were recently finished and shipped to the TMT storage facility in the Bay Area. Engineering & Technology /news/495 /news/495 Wed, 23 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT Laser Guide Star Facility (LGSF) has successfully completed the first phase of its Preliminary Design Review (PDR1). The LGSF will be responsible for generating artificial laser guide stars that will be used with TMT’s Adaptive Optics (AO) systems, including NFIRAOS, the Observatory’s first-light AO facility. Engineering & Technology /news/494 /news/494 Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 In a previous set of blog entries, we discussed the principle of adaptive optics, which TMT will use to remove the effects of turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere. TMT's first light adaptive optics includes the Narrow Field Infra-Red Adaptive Optics System (NFIRAOS), which is being designed and built by our Canadian colleagues at the Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre, in Victoria. /blog/493 /blog/493 Wed, 02 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 The optical metrology and test set for TMT’s primary mirror segments has arrived at its warehouse in California. It was sent by Arizona Optical Systems (AOS) in Tucson, Arizona, on May 11 and arrived safely the day after at the TMT storage facility after a 500-mile journey. All fabrication and test tooling for the complete metrology system were also included in the freight. Engineering & Technology /news/492 /news/492 Tue, 01 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 The handling equipment for TMT primary mirror (M1) segment recently passed its Preliminary Design Review. The custom-designed equipment and tooling will be used to safely handle mirrors within the observatory during operational activities. Engineering & Technology /news/491 /news/491 Thu, 27 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Meet the TMT Team - Professor A.N. Ramaprakash (Ram) /blog/490 /blog/490 Wed, 26 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000 TMT is deeply saddened by the passing of TMT Systems Engineer Hugh Thompson on May 7, 2021. Hugh was a colleague, good friend and inspiration to many of us who were fortunate to interact with him over his career. TMT Partner News /news/hughthompsonremembrance /news/hughthompsonremembrance Fri, 21 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000 A virtual meeting was conducted on April 5, 2021 between representatives of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ, TMT Japanese Partner Institution) and the TMT Project Office (TMTPO) Telescope Structure Subsystem (STR), Systems Engineering (SE) and Project Management (PM) teams. The goal of this closeout meeting was to verify closure of all major actions from the STR Production Readiness Review (PRR) 1 which was conducted successfully in March, 2020. Engineering & Technology /news/488 /news/488 Thu, 13 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000 TIO recently celebrated the completion of another eight newly polished roundels produced for the TMT primary mirror by Canon in Japan. The TIO and NAOJ teams responsible for the mirror polishing held a face-to-face meeting virtually on April 27, 2021 to confirm that the polishing results met the demanding requirements for these parts. Engineering & Technology /news/487 /news/487 Thu, 29 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000 TMT’s Science Advisory Committee (SAC), which has been meeting bi-monthly since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, recently met to address the project status, its scientific potential and suitable instrumentation. The SAC is composed of representatives from each TMT partner who advise the Project on TMT’s design, strategies and operational matter that can have a significant impact on TMT science. Science & Astronomy /news/486 /news/486 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000 TMT and Coherent reached a new milestone this month with the completion of the first two roundels for TMT’s Primary Mirror (M1). Coherent precisely contoured and polished the optical surfaces of the roundels under the direction of TIO. They are the first of 231 roundels Coherent will provide for the TMT primary mirror array, nearly half of the total of 492 required to complete the telescope. Engineering & Technology /news/485 /news/485 Mon, 19 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000 TMT, in partnership with Larson Packaging Company, recently celebrated the successful design and completion of TMT’s Primary Mirror Assembly Shipping Container (PMASC). The shipping container will enclose and protect TMT’s primary mirror segments during transport and storage between their international destinations. Engineering & Technology /news/484 /news/484 Mon, 08 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000 A major milestone for the international Thirty Meter Telescope project (TMT) was reached in October 2020, as TMT selected California-based Coherent, Inc. for the Hexagonal cutting of the US allocation of its Primary Mirror (M1) segments. Coherent is one of the world’s leading providers of photonic solutions, including lasers and custom optics, and has extensive experience in large-scale precision optics and assemblies, such as those required for the TMT. Coherent was previously awarded the contract for polishing the US allocation of M1 segments. Engineering & Technology /news/483 /news/483 Wed, 03 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope Optics Group recently reached a critical production milestone, with the approval of the first polished roundel (# SN023) for TMT’s Primary Mirror (M1). Teams at TIO, NAOJ, and Canon reviewed the manufacturing operations required to turn a meniscus mirror blank into a polished roundel, and the roundel was confirmed to meet all requirements set by the TMT Project. This approval obtained in December 2020 validates years of effort by Canon Inc. to develop a successful mirror polishing process. Engineering & Technology /news/482 /news/482 Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Today about 100 friends and colleagues joined virtually to celebrate and honor Dr. Gary Sanders, who officially retired at the start of 2021 after nearly 17 years of leading the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) as Project Manager. TMT Partner News /news/tmt-project-manager-dr-gary-sanders-retires /news/tmt-project-manager-dr-gary-sanders-retires Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 As an extremely complex organization of systems all interacting together, TMT will require an elaborate Telescope Utility Services (TUS) infrastructure to enable operations within the observatory, across the summit facilities, enclosure, and telescope. The first tier of TMT’s TUS successfully passed its Final Design review, covering elements of the design that pertain to the Telescope Structure and its various interfaces, via video conferencing on Oct. 28 and 29, 2020. Engineering & Technology /news/480 /news/480 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 The newly built India-TMT Optics Fabrication Facility (ITOFF) was recently inaugurated by Vice President of India Shri. Venkaiah Naidu at the Center for Research and Education in Science & Technology (CREST) of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru. TMT Partner News /news/479 /news/479 Wed, 20 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Dr. Gary Sanders, who has led the TMT Project as Project Manager with distinction since its inception, will retire at the start of 2021. TMT Partner News /news/dr-gary-sanders-to-retire /news/dr-gary-sanders-to-retire Mon, 07 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000 TMT Optics and Systems Engineering teams have reached another major milestone, with a successful “gate” review of the TMT optical Test INstruments System (TINS) preliminary design. Engineering & Technology /news/475 /news/475 Mon, 26 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Many Congratulations to Andrea Ghez on the award of the Physics 2020 Nobel Prize for her work on the discovery of a supermassive compact object at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Science & Astronomy /news/474 /news/474 Fri, 09 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Many major wildfires are devastating lands and homes across the entire west coast, including in California, Oregon and Washington. Although wildland fires are common at this time of the year, the fires experienced this summer are among the region’s most destructive. /news/473 /news/473 Fri, 18 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000 TMT Optics and Systems Engineering teams recently conducted a technical evaluation of the primary mirror optical cleaning system, marking a major milestone in its design. The Optics Cleaning System (CLN) for TMT’s segmented primary mirror (M1) as well as the secondary (M2) and tertiary (M3) mirrors successfully passed Preliminary Design Review (PDR) on August 19 and 20, 2020 during a remote conference meeting. Engineering & Technology /news/472 /news/472 Tue, 08 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Meet the TMT team with a new interview in our blog. Before the pandemic we met with Caty Pilachowski, Professor of Astronomy, who has held several leadership positions in the astronomical community. She has been active in research on the evolution of stars, large telescope design and construction, women in science and much more. /blog/471 /blog/471 Tue, 18 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000 An important project for the global astronomy community, TMT is working collaboratively with the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) and the National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab) to develop a U.S.-Extremely Large Telescope Program (US-ELTP). Science & Astronomy /news/update-august-2020 /news/update-august-2020 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000 One of TMT’s three “Early Light” instruments, the Wide-Field Optical Spectrometer (WFOS), recently underwent an interim Conceptual Design Review via Zoom. The review’s purpose was to assess the instrument’s progress to date and to provide guidance on potential work needed to successfully complete the technical and scientific aspects to bring the overall design to a full Conceptual Design level. Engineering & Technology /news/469 /news/469 Thu, 23 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Recently, the TMT Engineering Sensors System (ESEN) successfully passed its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and is now ready to enter the Final Design phase. Chris Carter and Scott Michaels, TMT telescope control and software engineers, led a team of four people in presenting the design to the review panel. Engineering & Technology /news/468 /news/468 Fri, 26 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope recently reached another critical development milestone with the successful Conceptual Design Review close-out meeting of the Cryogenic Cooling System (CRYO). The online review, held on May 19, 2020, focused on the completion of the recommendations that arose from the CRYO Conceptual Design Review held in August 2018. Engineering & Technology /news/467 /news/467 Thu, 18 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000 The results of a new scientific poll show Hawaii residents continue to support the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. The public opinion poll conducted in March 2020 by Ward Research, Inc. shows that 61 percent of Hawaii residents support moving ahead with construction of TMT, with 32 percent opposed. Education & Outreach /news/466 /news/466 Thu, 28 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Helping to mitigate the shortage of protective equipment across the island, TMT staff in Hilo recently sewed and donated 75 reusable cloth face masks to The Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of East Hawaii. Community Engagement /news/465 /news/465 Wed, 20 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Unfortunately, thousands of students across Hawaii will be out of school for the next several months due to the coronavirus crisis. With parents taking on a larger teaching role to make sure their kids continue to learn and grow while sequestered at home, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Hilo-based Hawaii Science and Technology Museum to fund its innovative online STEM learning program. Community Engagement /news/464 /news/464 Thu, 14 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000 The first TMT primary mirror (M1) metrology frame has been built and delivered to TMT’s technical laboratory near Pasadena. TMT will use the metrology frames, which are auxiliary equipment tools, to accurately locate the M1 mirror segments during installation. Engineering & Technology /news/463 /news/463 Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Scientists recently attended the first joint TMT-GMT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held virtually to ensure the safety of all its members. The meeting was of historical importance, as it was the first of its kind to be commonly organized with the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) Science Advisory Committee. Science & Astronomy /news/462 /news/462 Tue, 28 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000 TMT’s Enclosure System has achieved its final design milestone, successfully passing a series of Production Readiness Reviews (PRR) in March 2020. Engineering & Technology /news/461 /news/461 Thu, 23 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Ecco il prossimo della nostra intervista con il team TMT. Incontriamo con Tommaso Treu, Professore di astronomia all'Università della California di Los Angeles. /blog/460 /blog/460 Wed, 22 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Here is the next of our interview with TMT team. Today we meet with Tommaso Treu, Professor of Astronomy at the University of California Los Angeles and Chair of the TMT Science Advisory Committee. /blog/459 /blog/459 Wed, 22 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000 * Donation Made in Memory of Barry Taniguchi * The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s food bank, has received a $100,000 donation from the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) to meet the growing demand for food assistance on the island in the wake of COVID-19. The funding will be used to support The Food Basket’s existing programs, including Ohana Drops, the Kupuna Pantry and Da Box Program. Community Engagement /news/458 /news/458 Tue, 21 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000 One of the most exciting developments in astronomy has been the detection of gravitational waves by The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO). LIGO has detected the gravitational waves originating from the collisions of black holes and of neutron stars. /blog/457 /blog/457 Mon, 13 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000 The first of TMT’s Primary Mirror (M1) segment prototypes was recently tested and polished using the Ion Beam Figuring (IBF) process. Engineering & Technology /news/456 /news/456 Mon, 23 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000 The Multi-Segment Integration & Test (MSIT) facility at the TMT lab in Monrovia, California, is now fully populated with seven aluminum mirror segment prototypes. Engineering & Technology /news/454 /news/454 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000 TMT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) members and project office staff recently met at the Project Office in Pasadena. Science & Astronomy /news/453 /news/453 Fri, 21 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000 One of TMT’s most important components – its huge primary mirror that spans over 30 meters – continues to be manufactured around the world. Engineering & Technology /news/receivinginspectionindia /news/receivinginspectionindia Thu, 06 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000 TMT participated in the 3rd and biggest Annual Science Night of Eliot Arts Magnet Academy on Friday January 24th. Community Engagement /news/451 /news/451 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Presenting students the long voyage of the NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, Dr Ravinder Bhatia, TMT Project Manager Associate, talked about Saturn’s exploration and gave an outreach presentation on "Saturn's Rings and Moons" at Sierra Madre Elementary School on January 15, 2020. /blog/450 /blog/450 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Pasadena, CA, January 13, 2020 – The design of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s Tertiary Mirror (M3) recently passed the first part of its Preliminary Design Review, which took place over two days in November 2019. Engineering & Technology /news/m3spdr1 /news/m3spdr1 Wed, 22 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Coherent Inc., one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology, is now ready to polish all of the TMT primary mirrors segments to be manufactured in the United States. Engineering & Technology /news/productioncoherent /news/productioncoherent Tue, 21 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000 TMT recently achieved another significant milestone, with the successful preliminary design review of the Observatory Safety System (OSS). The review material was presented by TMT engineers Jimmy Johnson and Kayla Hardie from the project office. Engineering & Technology /news/447 /news/447 Fri, 20 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 The Hawaii Island New Knowledge (THINK) Fund was launched in 2014 to improve educational opportunities for Hawaii Island students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines. Community Engagement /news/thinkfund2019 /news/thinkfund2019 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Two full-size TMT Primary Segment demonstration assemblies fitted with aluminum mirror segments have been successfully installed into the Multi-Segment Integration & Test (MSIT) facility at the TMT lab. Engineering & Technology /news/2msit /news/2msit Wed, 11 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Our Optics Group has been doing some testing recently. Click on the video below. You can see two strips of metal, separately attached to a circular piece of glass. Pull the strips apart. How hard can you pull before something breaks? And what on Earth does this have to do with building a telescope? /blog/443 /blog/443 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Xiamen, China – 12 November, 2019 – The seventh Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Science Forum was held for the first time in China, in the city of Xiamen, Province of Fujian, earlier this month. TMT Partner News /news/442 /news/442 Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000 The leaf springs required for TMT warping harness mechanism, supporting each one of the 492 primary active segments, are being tested and validated in an Environmental Simulation Laboratory. Engineering & Technology https://youtu.be/r1r6u9YZV9M https://youtu.be/r1r6u9YZV9M Wed, 13 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Voici un nouvel entretien avec l’équipe du TMT. Aujourd'hui, nous rencontrons Dimitri Mawet, directeur du laboratoire de Caltech sur les technologies liées à la recherche des planètes extra-solaires. Dimitri est aussi responsable de MODHIS, un des instruments de première lumière pour TMT. Ce spectrographe infrarouge travaillera à haute résolution spectrale et angulaire et aura pour principal objectif scientifique de caractériser et rechercher des signes de vie dans l'atmosphère des planètes extra-solaires similaires à la Terre. /blog/440 /blog/440 Wed, 06 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Here is the next of our interview series with the team of TMT. Today we meet with Dimitri Mawet, director of the Exoplanet Technology Laboratory of Caltech and lead researcher for MODHIS one of TMT first-light instrument. The Multi-Object Diffraction-limited High-Resolution Infrared Spectrograph (MODHIS) is a high-resolution spectrograph whose main science goal will be to characterize the atmosphere of exoplanets and search for the presence of biomarkers. /blog/439 /blog/439 Wed, 06 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Work is underway at TMT Project Lab. near Pasadena. Engineering & Technology /news/438 /news/438 Fri, 01 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000 New Answers on the Horizon Black hole science asks many questions, some of which we’ve talked about in this blog: Where do we find black holes? How “big” are they? How old? And how do they grow and change over time? Now, in our final article about these cosmic leviathans, we'll look at how TMT will help advance our understanding. As we’ll see, TMT will be an important part of the quest to learn more about these unfathomably massive, yet elusive, objects. Working on its own and in conjunction with other observatories, TMT will use its next-generation capabilities to bring us new answers to these questions—and more. /blog/435 /blog/435 Tue, 29 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Dr. Saku Tsuneta, Director General of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), recently met with TMT experts at the technical laboratory in Monrovia, California. Dr. Tsuneta also serves as a member of the TMT Board of Governors, which is accountable for both financial decision-making and strategic planning for the TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory. Engineering & Technology /news/437 /news/437 Mon, 28 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope Common Software (CSW), which has been under development the past two years, recently passed its pre-shipment review, meaning it is consistent with its original requirements and design and is ready for its future integration within TMT’s software infrastructure. Engineering & Technology /news/434 /news/434 Tue, 15 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000 TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory Executive Director, Dr. Edward C. Stone, has been awarded the prestigious 2019 Shaw Prize in Astronomy for his leadership on the Voyager project. Science & Astronomy /news/433 /news/433 Wed, 02 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT Telescope Control System (TCS) successfully passed its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and is now ready to enter its final design phase. Engineering & Technology /news/432 /news/432 Tue, 01 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000 New developments within the TMT Quality Assurance program include the acquisition of an advanced metrology system to measure to very high precision the telescope primary mirror assemblies. Engineering & Technology /news/431 /news/431 Mon, 16 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 In this series of articles, we've discussed what we know about black holes—how we can find them, how old they are, what their masses are. Now, we'll describe jets that we see coming from the center of some galaxies, where we think black holes are the source. /blog/searching-for-leviathan-part-4 /blog/searching-for-leviathan-part-4 Tue, 03 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Letter to the editor that Ed Stone, TMT Executive Director; Christophe Dumas, Observatory Scientist; and Gordon Squires, Vice President External Relations wrote recently in the Honolulu Star Advertiser Newspaper - Understanding the Past, Navigating the Present, Embracing the Future - Science & Astronomy /news/430 /news/430 Thu, 22 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 In previous articles in this series, we've looked at how we think black holes have formed, where they are, and how old they are. Now, let's look at how big they are. /blog/searching-for-leviathan-part-3 /blog/searching-for-leviathan-part-3 Mon, 19 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 In the previous article of this series on leviathans, we looked at how we think black holes have formed. Now, let's look first at how we can find these black holes, and second at how old we think they are. /blog/searching-for-leviathan-part-2 /blog/searching-for-leviathan-part-2 Sun, 18 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Pasadena, CA – July 10, 2019 – TMT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) members and project office scientists recently met in Pasadena. The meeting kicked off with a project update by TMT Project Manager Gary Sanders. Science & Astronomy /news/424 /news/424 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000 HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige and the Thirty Meter Telescope 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO) today announced that construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will begin the week of July 15, 2019. The State Department of Transportation announced that Mauna Kea Access Road will be closed and there could be lane and other road closures associated with large equipment movement beginning July 15. In addition, hunting units A, K, and G in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve area will be temporarily closed to hunting effective July 15. Both measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security of the public and personnel involved in moving equipment for the TMT project up the Mauna Kea Access Road. https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/latest-news/governors-office-joint-news-release-thirty-meter-telescope-set-to-start-construction/ https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/latest-news/governors-office-joint-news-release-thirty-meter-telescope-set-to-start-construction/ Wed, 10 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000 For more information on TMT update in Hawaii, please visit https://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/. Science & Astronomy /news/413 /news/413 Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000 TMT staff Glen Cole and Christophe Dumas have a coffee-break conversation about Glen’s last trip to Japan and update on TMT mirrors fabrication and verification. Engineering & Technology /news/416 /news/416 Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000 We are pleased to announce the launch of our email newsletter. /news/409 /news/409 Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Introduction "Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee." /blog/searching-for-leviathan-part-1 /blog/searching-for-leviathan-part-1 Tue, 25 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Last week, a group of aspiring young astronauts went through a simulation of a space mission, looking for signs of extraterrestrial life in our Solar System. The children acted out a script based on NASA/JPL's deployment of the Curiosity Rover on Mars, and also the movie "Europa Report" for the landing on Europa. /blog/407 /blog/407 Tue, 25 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Pasadena, CA (June 06, 2019) – A Segment Support Assembly (SSA) “pre-build” meeting at the Coimbatore facility of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) was successfully completed on May 22, 2019. The meeting was aimed at assessing the readiness of the L&T team to start manufacturing their first SSAs. Participants included India TMT Coordination Centre (ITCC) and the TMT Project Office team. Engineering & Technology /news/402 /news/402 Mon, 24 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has issued a notice to proceed (NTP) to the University of Hawaii for the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea. The NTP is a formal communication indicating that all pre-construction conditions and mitigation measures specifically required as a condition of the Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) have been met. With the NTP, TMT can proceed with construction. /news/406 /news/406 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Dr Ravinder Bhatia, TMT Associate Project Manager, interviews with Annapurni Subramaniam, Professor of Astronomy at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bangalore. She is the Indian project manager for the TMT observatory Software development. /blog/400 /blog/400 Mon, 17 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 CILAS will develop the two large deformable mirrors for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). Engineering & Technology /news/399 /news/399 Thu, 13 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Pasadena, CA – May 15, 2019 – The TMT Observatory Executive Software (ESW), which will provide the core functionality needed to enable observations of science programs for on-site and remote observers, recently passed the first phase of final design review. Engineering & Technology /news/393 /news/393 Tue, 28 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000 A couple of weeks ago I was in Mumbai, to give a talk on TMT at "Vigyan Samagam—Pushing the Frontiers of Science”. The event was organized by the Indian government, to showcase India’s contributions to large international collaborations in fundamental science and research. /blog/392 /blog/392 Fri, 24 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000 On May 08 2019, the India TMT team presented the TMT pavilion at “Vigyan Samagam”, the first global science exhibition in Mumbai. A scaled, animated model of the Thirty Meter Telescope, a gallery of posters, and informational material have been created for public outreach. Science & Astronomy /news/386 /news/386 Fri, 10 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Dr Ravinder Bhatia, TMT Gerente de Proyecto Asociado, presenta una entrevista con Dr Gelys Trancho, Ingeniero Ejecutivo de Sistemas. /blog/381 /blog/381 Mon, 15 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Dr Ravinder Bhatia, TMT Associate Project Manager, interviews with Dr Gelys Trancho TMT Senior Systems Engineer. /blog/380 /blog/380 Mon, 15 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000 在罢惭罢，我有幸能与来自许多不同国家和不同专业领域的专家一块工作。加入我和我一起认识这些同事，了解他们在罢惭罢上所做的工作。我们还将探讨他们对于学生在职业选择方面的建议。今天，我们将与罢惭罢项目副经理刘凤川博士对话。 /blog/379 /blog/379 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Dr Ravinder Bhatia, TMT Associate Project Manager, interviews with Dr Fengchuan Liu TMT Deputy Project Manager. /blog/378 /blog/378 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000 The India TMT Optical Fabrication Facility (ITOFF), being constructed at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics campus in Hosakote, near Bengaluru, is rapidly approaching completion. The world-class optical facility was built by India-TMT as part of its contribution to the TMT partnership. TMT Partner News /news/377 /news/377 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Professor G.C. Anupama has become the first woman ever elected president of the Astronomical Society of India, the main association of Indian professional astronomers. TMT Partner News /news/376 /news/376 Tue, 26 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Pasadena, CA – February 6, 2019 – The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), on behalf of India TMT, recently signed a contract with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to manufacture 100 Segment Support Assemblies (SSA) for the TMT. L&T is one of the largest leading construction engineering companies in India. TMT Partner News /news/375 /news/375 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Dr Ravinder Bhatia, TMT Associate Project Manager, interviews with Dr Warren Skidmore, TMT Instrument System Scientist. /blog/373 /blog/373 Mon, 04 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Dr. Ravinder Bhatia, TMT Associate Project Manager, visited the Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences (CASS) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). In Ravinder's astrophysics seminar, he presented an overview and status update of the TMT Project. Science & Astronomy /news/371 /news/371 Wed, 23 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Beijing, China – On 19-21 December 2018, Thirty Meter Telescope China (TMT-China) Team held its science and technology annual assembly and TMT High Resolution Optical Spectrograph Instrument (HROS) Workshop at the headquarters of the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC). TMT Partner News /news/370 /news/370 Wed, 16 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000 2019 ISDT Call for Membership - Applications for membership in the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) 91制片厂官网 Science Development Teams (ISDTs) will be accepted until 8 February 2019. Science & Astronomy /news/368 /news/368 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Pasadena, CA – 19 December, 2018 – The TMT project recently hosted its yearly Science Forum in Pasadena, CA, where the project’s headquarters is located. Science & Astronomy /news/367 /news/367 Thu, 20 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000 TMT was at the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics STEAM Night at Sierra Madre Elementary School. Community Engagement /news/364 /news/364 Fri, 07 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000 TMT featured in the magazine "Connected" from LEMO, a leader in the design and manufacture of electronic and fibre optic connectors that are used in TMT Primary Mirror Warping Harness System. Engineering & Technology https://view.publitas.com/lemo/lemo-connected-n-11-a-magazine-by-lemo/page/34-35 https://view.publitas.com/lemo/lemo-connected-n-11-a-magazine-by-lemo/page/34-35 Mon, 26 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory Board of Directors recently endorsed the recommendations made by the Science Advisory Committee (SAC), to select a slit-mask-based imaging spectrograph design for WFOS (Wide Field Optical Spectrograph), its second first-light instrument. Science & Astronomy /news/362 /news/362 Mon, 12 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The Hawaii Supreme Court, by majority decision, today issued its opinion affirming the Board of Land and Natural Resources' decision to issue a Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) for construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Maunakea. /news/361 /news/361 Tue, 30 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Pasadena, CA - Sept. 25, 2018 – The TMT Project Office recently held a conceptual design review to evaluate the design study for the TMT’s Adaptive Secondary Mirror (AM2) system. Engineering & Technology /news/360 /news/360 Thu, 18 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Pasadena, 5 October, 2018 - The TMT Observatory Executive Software (ESW) has passed a key milestone and is now ready to enter final design phase. An ESW Preliminary Design Review phase1 (PDR1) was held at the project office on September 27, 2018. ThoughtWorks, ITCC and TMT Engineers presented the overall Executive Software architecture and operations concepts, as well as their updated requirements and technical use cases. Engineering & Technology /news/359 /news/359 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000 “This revolutionary system will significantly expand Keck Observatory’s scientific reach,” said Co-Principal Investigator Andrea Ghez, director of the UCLA Galactic Center Group. “KAPA will also serve as an intellectual springboard for the coming generation of extremely large telescopes. We are developing KAPA in partnership with the Thirty Meter Telescope, Giant Magellan Telescope, and European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) so they can be well-prepared when the time comes to build their own AO instrumentation.” Science & Astronomy http://keckobservatory.org/kapa/ http://keckobservatory.org/kapa/ Thu, 04 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Fun and learning at TMT Camp for Puna Keikis Community Engagement /news/354 /news/354 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 PASADENA (July 26-27, 2018)– The Thirty Meter Telescope Optics Group recently achieved a critical milestone by passing its Primary Mirror Optics System (M1S) final design review. The review board, comprised of international reviewers and observers from various institutions including ESO, ITCC, JPL, JWST/Ball Aerospace, KECK, NAOJ, NIAOT, and the TMTPO*, met at TMT headquarters in Pasadena. Engineering & Technology /news/353 /news/353 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 PASADENA July 11, 2018 – The conceptual design of TMT’s Cryogenic Cooling System (CRYO) has passed its conceptual design review. Engineers from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) joined TIO engineers at the project office to present the system that will be used to maintain parts of TMT’s first-light science instruments at cryogenic temperatures of 77 K. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20180829 /news/tmt20180829 Wed, 29 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The Akamai Workforce Initiative, a local program dedicated to advancing Hawai‘i college students into science and technology careers, recently wrapped up its 2018 summer internship program with a series of symposiums highlighting the interns’ work. With lead funding from the Thirty Meter Telescope, the Akamai Internship Program provides community college students and undergraduates with summer projects at observatories and other high tech companies in Hawai‘i. This year’s cohort of 38 student interns were from Hawai‘i or enrolled at a University of Hawai‘i campus. Education & Outreach /news/350 /news/350 Tue, 14 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000 On July 16, 2018, a workshop about TMT's Mid-Infrared Camera, High-disperser, and Integral field spectrograph (MICHI) was held at the National Astronomical Observatories, CAS (NAOC), Beijing. TMT Partner News /news/356 /news/356 Fri, 03 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000 In Part 1 of this article, I described astrometry and why it's such an important part of astronomy. Now, we're going to look at how TMT will perform astrometry to a new degree of precision. /blog/348 /blog/348 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000 While pursuing my doctorate in experimental astrophysics, in London, I would sometimes visit the map room at the British Museum. I'd look at the ancient maps, with coastlines that were recognizable, but distorted and out of proportion. Some areas were imagined to be populated by terrifying monsters, or even left blank, because cartographers of the time had insufficient information to do better. Over time, as more information was observed or extrapolated, maps became more accurate, and were able to cover more area, piecing together our picture of the world like a puzzle, a little bit at a time. And as we did this, piece by piece, we learned more about our place in the world. /blog/347 /blog/347 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) and its collaborative partners, the Thirty Meter Telescope 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO) and the Giant Magellan Telescope Organization (GMTO) invite all interested U.S. scientists to participate in the development of exemplar Key Science Programs (KSPs) for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) and Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), preferably working in concert. Science & Astronomy /news/us-elt-ksp-development-invitation /news/us-elt-ksp-development-invitation Mon, 09 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000 HILO, HAWAII (July 5, 2018) – The Thirty Meter Telescope project (TMT) was recently awarded the 2018 Pualu Community Education Award by the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce for its educational contributions to the Hawaii Island community through its THINK Fund. Meaning to “work together,” the Pualu Awards were established in 1979 to honor dedication and hard work in the community. The Pualu Community Education Award honors an individual or organization that promotes and supports education and enrichment programs that develop personal skills and lifelong learning. Community Engagement http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/tmt-recognized-for-contributions-to-hawaii-island-schools-and-educational-programs/ http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/tmt-recognized-for-contributions-to-hawaii-island-schools-and-educational-programs/ Thu, 05 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Work is moving forward on TMT’s Telescope Control System (TCS), which is responsible for the coordination and control of the various telescope subsystems, responding to commands received from the observatory control system and from expert user interfaces. A part of TMT’s India work-share, the TCS is technically challenging due to the large number of external interfaces and the need for efficient communication with many distributed teams from USA, Japan, Canada, China and India. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20180619tcs /news/tmt20180619tcs Tue, 19 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Hilo, Hawaii (June 18, 2018) – The Hawaii Island New Knowledge (THINK) Fund has awarded college scholarships totaling $1,050,000 to 116 local Hawaii Island students over the past 4 years and an additional $2 plus million to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) pursuits. Education & Outreach /news/342 /news/342 Mon, 18 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0000 TMT Hilo office makes keiki stress relief kits for families affected by Hawaii Island volcanic activity Community Engagement http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/tmt-hilo-office-makes-keiki-stress-relief-kits-for-families-affected-by-lava-flow/ http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/tmt-hilo-office-makes-keiki-stress-relief-kits-for-families-affected-by-lava-flow/ Tue, 29 May 2018 00:00:00 +0000 A new research frontier in astronomy and astrophysics will open in the mid-2020s with the advent of ground-based extremely large optical-infrared telescopes (ELTs) with primary mirrors in the 20-m – 40-m range. U.S. scientific leadership in astronomy and astrophysics will be significantly enhanced if the broad U.S. community can take advantage of the power of these new ELTs. In that context, the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), the Giant Magellan Telescope Organization (GMTO), and the Thirty Meter Telescope 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO) have embarked on the development of a U.S. Extremely Large Telescope (US-ELT) Program. Science & Astronomy https://www.noao.edu/news/2018/us-elt-announcement.php https://www.noao.edu/news/2018/us-elt-announcement.php Mon, 21 May 2018 00:00:00 +0000 In an earlier companion post (Sharper Focus, Part 1), I introduced the concept of adaptive optics and talked about some of the ways astronomers and engineers have used those techniques to sharpen the images we capture. Now I’d like to show you some of the specific adaptive optics solutions that will enhance TMT’s vision. /blog/tmt20180419 /blog/tmt20180419 Thu, 19 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Members of the TMT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) met in Pasadena on April 9&10, 2018 for their quarterly gathering. SAC representatives reported on their respective activities for the TMT project and discussed top-level requirements for TMT’s suite of science instruments. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20180418 /news/tmt20180418 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO) Board of Governors at its meeting this week deferred a decision on whether to continue towards building the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hawaii, or to consider the alternative in the Canary Islands. /news/news4132018 /news/news4132018 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The Atmospheric Lens TMT’s unprecedented ability to peer into the depths of the Universe means it will have a phenomenal impact on many areas of astronomy. But in this age of space-based telescopes, you may have wondered how a ground-based observatory like TMT (or some of the other next-generation large terrestrial telescopes) will get past the challenges of being on the ground instead of up in orbit. One of the major challenges is contending with the way Earth's atmosphere changes the appearance of light that reaches us from objects in the sky. /blog/tmt20180411 /blog/tmt20180411 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Pasadena, March 16, 2018 - The conceptual design and scope of TMT’s Refrigerant Cooling System (REFR), which was executed and developed by a close Chinese-North American collaboration, successfully passed a recent conceptual design review. This system will be used to provide cooling to electronics enclosures mounted on the telescope structure. The system also maintains several TMT instrument enclosures at subzero temperatures to reduce thermal backgrounds for near-infrared observations. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20180317 /news/tmt20180317 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Pasadena, CA - March 8, 2018 - Future users of the Thirty Meter Telescope are now preparing studies of the science instruments that will be deployed after the telescope's first-light instrumentation suite. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20180308 /news/tmt20180308 Thu, 08 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Until recently, eyeglass lenses were actually made of glass-remember the "Coke-bottle-bottoms" some people had to wear? Given the fragility and other quirky qualities of glass, you can imagine the delicacy with which the optician had to grind every lens blank to achieve exactly the right specifications. Now picture 492 glass pieces - actually, mirror segments once they have the reflective coating added -each weighing as much as a dozen car batteries and twice the size of the windshield of your car, and you have a rough idea of the challenge facing the teams who will fabricate TMT's primary mirror. How on Earth can we find a way to shape and polish, to exact specifications, these mammoth hunks of glass? /blog/tmt20180222 /blog/tmt20180222 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The year started at full speed for the TMT Observatory Software (OSW) team, who met in Pune, India with their colleagues from the India TMT Coordination Center (ITCC) and ThoughtWorks engineers to conduct their 3rd Common Software (CSW) sub-system inception meeting. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20180215 /news/tmt20180215 Thu, 15 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000 “Wax on, wax off,” said Mr. Miyagi to "The Karate Kid" (1984), to help the kid develop efficiency of movement, attention to detail, and grace—while also polishing Mr. Miyagi’s classic car. What could this possibly have to do with TMT? /blog/tmt20180213 /blog/tmt20180213 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000 As I’ve explained elsewhere in this blog, segment support assemblies are what hold in place each of TMT’s primary mirror segments. They also let each segment be positioned in real time to provide the best possible imaging capability. Staff at the TMT Project Lab in Monrovia, California, are building six segment support assemblies to determine whether the design can be manufactured in a repeatable, problem-free manner. /blog/usa-ssa /blog/usa-ssa Thu, 01 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000 It’s been some time since my last blog entry because TMT has been keeping me rather busy. I’ll talk about some of the latest happenings in upcoming entries as soon as time permits. However, before letting any more time go by, I’d like to take a moment to highlight TMT’s WFOS system. /blog/at-first-light /blog/at-first-light Tue, 16 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The shipment of TMT’s first meniscus-shaped primary mirror segment to the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru (Bangalore) has just been completed. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20180109 /news/tmt20180109 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The Real-Time Controller of TMT’s Narrow Field InfraRed Adaptive Optics System (NFIRAOS) successfully passed its final design review and is ready to proceed to the fabrication phase, which is expected to last approximately four years. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20180108 /news/tmt20180108 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Following a successful second IRIS Preliminary Design Phase Review (PDR-2) at the TMT Project Office in Pasadena, IRIS is proceeding into its Final Design phase. The focus of the second review, held in September, involved an assessment of the IRIS software (including its data reduction system) and electrical design (including its detectors) as well as programmatic aspects spanning project cost and overall schedule. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20171113 /news/tmt20171113 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000 Marking a major production milestone, TMT has entered into a contract with Coherent Inc., one of the world’s leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers, to polish its U.S. manufactured primary mirrors (M1) segments. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20171107 /news/tmt20171107 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000 Representatives from the Thirty Meter Telescope’s (TMT’s) Wide-Field Optical Spectrograph (WFOS) team and TMT’s China partners gathered on October 16 in Beijing, China to discuss potential collaboration during the next stage of the conceptual design of WFOS. TMT Partner News /news/tmt20171026 /news/tmt20171026 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000 Last month, the TMT Communications and Information System (CIS) passed a key test, making it ready to enter its preliminary design phase. A Conceptual Design Review (CoDR) was held at the Project Office in Pasadena to evaluate the proposed conceptual design solution and the technical trade-offs considered for TMT’s network and security needs. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20171009 /news/tmt20171009 Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000 The State of Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) deliberated and decided to approve a Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) that would allow construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea on Hawaii Island. /news/tmt20170929 /news/tmt20170929 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000 The process to secure a Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) to build TMT on Maunakea continued in Hawaii, as the state land board – also known as the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) – heard final oral arguments from all parties involved in the contested case. /news/tmt20170921 /news/tmt20170921 Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope recently made the second-half of its $1 million annual payment to the THINK Fund, supporting educational opportunities for Hawaii Island students and teachers. Community Engagement /news/tmt20170918 /news/tmt20170918 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000 On September 7, 2017, a TMT Primary Segment Assembly (PSA), fitted with an aluminum mirror segment, was successfully installed into the Multi-Segment Integration & Test (MSIT) facility at the TMT lab in Monrovia, California. This is the first time a PSA has been integrated into hardware in a way that accurately reflects how the segments will be installed into the final mirror cell of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20170914 /news/tmt20170914 Thu, 14 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000 As I write this, the final design for TMT’s enclosure—a huge, moveable dome that will house the telescope—is nearing completion. A substantial portion of the final design has already been done, allowing for work to begin on the production readiness phase. The last of the design reviews, for the enclosure’s electrical and controls aspects, is planned for the coming months, with the hope that a contract for the fabrication phase and making all the parts can be signed in 2018. /blog/tmt20170814 /blog/tmt20170814 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000 The Akamai Workforce Initiative’s Internship Program will hold its Student Internship Symposiums on Hawaii Island in Hilo and Waimea on Monday, August 7. Hawaii college interns will present their summer projects with a follow-up question and answer period. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20170805 /news/tmt20170805 Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000 After nearly five months of evidentiary hearings, a former state Judge has recommended a key state permit be issued to the University of Hawaii to allow construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea in Hawaii. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20170802 /news/tmt20170802 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000 The Akamai Workforce Initiative, a local program dedicated to advancing Hawai‘i college students into science and technology careers, has announced the latest class of students for its 2017 summer internship program. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20170724 /news/tmt20170724 Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000 The fifth edition of the Adaptive Optics for Extremely Large Telescope meeting (AO4ELT) was recently held in Puerto de la Cruz, in the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. The conference gathered specialists from all around the world to discuss the latest developments made in Adaptive Optics for the current and next-generation of ground-based telescopes. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20170710 /news/tmt20170710 Mon, 10 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT Observatory Software team, the Indian TMT Coordination Center (ITCC), ThoughtWorks software engineers and remote participants in India and Germany recently gathered for the second inception meeting at the TMT project office to discuss the Common Software (CSW) development phase. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20170706 /news/tmt20170706 Thu, 06 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000 An integral piece of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s Multi Segment Integration and Test facility (MSIT) has just been delivered to California. Traveling for a month between Osaka, Japan and California, the primary mirror prototype is soon to be delivered to the TMT laboratory in Monrovia. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20170613 /news/tmt20170613 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000 Managers and technical representatives of TMT and Sev1Tech Inc., an IT consulting firm, gathered on May 25 at the TMT’s Project Office in Pasadena for a detailed overview of the scope of TMT’s Communications and Information Systems. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20170608 /news/tmt20170608 Thu, 08 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000 One of the highlights for me starting to working on TMT four years ago was my first visit to our laboratory, and the opportunity to see and touch the hardware prototypes for TMT’s mirror support and control systems. /blog/integration-and-testing-tmt-laboratory /blog/integration-and-testing-tmt-laboratory Thu, 18 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000 In the Himalayan foothills near Naintal, India, stands the largest single-mirror optical telescope in Asia: India’s new Devasthal Telescope, designed and built under the joint leadership of the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), the Indian Institute for Astrophysics, and the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research. /blog/blog-post-4 /blog/blog-post-4 Thu, 13 Apr 2017 00:00:00 +0000 Clearing a major milestone to construct and operate the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) in La Palma, Canary Islands, the TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO) and Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC) sign a hosting agreement. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20170329 /news/tmt20170329 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000 One of the joys of working on TMT is the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from amazing people all over the world, including Japan. /blog/blog-post-3 /blog/blog-post-3 Mon, 20 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000 Imagine trying to manufacture a primary mirror that is approximately 1/3 the size of an American football field. /blog/blog-post-2 /blog/blog-post-2 Wed, 08 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000 Last month, the Thirty Meter Telescope successfully completed the Test Results Review of the Telescope Tertiary Mirror (M3) Prototype. Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP) engineers presented a series of tests on the M3 prototype, which received full approval from the members of the multinational review panel. As a result, CIOMP is now moving into the construction phase of its full-scale tertiary mirror system for TMT. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20170306 /news/tmt20170306 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000 After 44 days of evidentiary hearings involving 71 witnesses, the Hilo hearings regarding the CDUA Contested Case for the TMT project officially adjourned at 6:41 p.m. Thursday March 2. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20170302 /news/tmt20170302 Thu, 02 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope is being designed and built by an international partnership of institutes and countries representing almost half the world’s total population. /blog/tmt-blog-1 /blog/tmt-blog-1 Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000 Earlier this month, production of the TMT Common Software (CSW) was launched at ThoughtWorks Technologies in Pune, India. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20170227 /news/tmt20170227 Mon, 27 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000 Design of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s IRIS (InfraRed Imaging Spectrograph), recently achieved a major milestone. The IRIS design team successfully completed the first of two slated Preliminary Design Reviews, which spanned the complete opto-mechanical design for the instrument. Additionally, the full set of operational concepts as well as all system and subsystem level design requirements and interfaces were presented. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20170221 /news/tmt20170221 Tue, 21 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000 In mid-December 2016, an international panel of reviewers met at the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) facility in Amagasaki, Japan, for the last of three final design review presentations for the Thirty Meter Telescope’s (TMT’s) telescope structure. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20170206 /news/tmt20170206 Mon, 06 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000 On December 13-14, 2016, an international panel of reviewers met at the TMT project office in Pasadena for the Final Design Review of the Common Software (CSW) subsystem. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20170201 /news/tmt20170201 Wed, 01 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000 A segment-handling robot developed in Japan for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) has received the 2016 Good Design Award. The robot is a key technology in the world’s first Segment Handling System (SHS), designed to safely and efficiently replace numerous segment mirrors for the next generation's extremely large telescope to maintain perfectly reflective mirrors during TMT's operation. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20161115 /news/tmt20161115 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory Board of Governors met last week to discuss the progress of TMT in Hawaii and to consider potential alternate sites. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20161031 /news/tmt20161031 Mon, 31 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000 Empire Industries Ltd. today announced that its Dynamic Structures division has been awarded a contract from Canadian Commercial Corporation for the final design and production readiness phases of the Thirty Meter Telescope enclosure. The contract is valued at approximately $10 million, and is expected to be completed over the next 20 months. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20160810 /news/tmt20160810 Wed, 10 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000 The results of a new scientific poll show Hawaii Island residents support the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. The public opinion poll conducted in July 2016 by Ward Research, Inc. shows that 60 percent of Big Island residents support moving ahead with construction of the TMT project, with 31 percent opposed. /news/tmt20160803 /news/tmt20160803 Wed, 03 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000 Eleven outstanding students from Hawaii Island have been awarded scholarships totaling $194,000 by the THINK Fund at Pauahi Foundation. The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) launched THINK (The Hawaii Island New Knowledge) Fund in 2014 to better prepare Hawaii Island students to master STEM and to become the workforce for higher paying science and technology jobs in Hawaii’s 21st century economy. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20160801 /news/tmt20160801 Mon, 01 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000 Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan were gathering places for TMT-related scientists, engineers, educators and public communications experts from around the world to discuss and plan the future for TMT during the 2016 edition of the TMT Science Forum. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20160712 /news/tmt20160712 Tue, 12 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000 The Akamai Workforce Initiative, a local program dedicated to advancing Hawai‘i college students into science and technology careers, has announced the latest class of students for its 2016 summer internship program. With lead funding from the Thirty Meter Telescope, the Akamai Internship Program provides community college students and undergraduates with summer projects at observatories and other high tech companies in Hawaii. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20160524 /news/tmt20160524 Tue, 24 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000 TMT scientists and staff will team up again with others from the local astronomy industry in bringing science to Big Island students next week as part of the “Journey Through The Universe” educational initiative. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20160302 /news/tmt20160302 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory Board of Governors met last week to discuss the future of TMT on Maunakea. To follow is a statement from Henry Yang, Chair of the TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory Board /news/tmt20160211 /news/tmt20160211 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000 THINK Fund at Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) Scholarship applications are currently being accepted through HCF's common online scholarship application with a February 18, 2016 deadline. Applicants are also considered for other scholarships that they qualify for from the over 200 scholarships HCF has available. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20160126 /news/tmt20160126 Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000 The Hawaii Island New Knowledge (THINK) Fund at Hawaii Community Foundation, established by TMT, continues to support teachers in Hawaii Island schools to boost STEM learning for their students. Since the classroom grants became available in November 2014, over $84,000 has been given for projects reaching 6,594 students at 25 schools island-wide. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20151211 /news/tmt20151211 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000 On Wednesday, December 2, 2015, the Hawaii Supreme Court invalidated the Conservation District Use Permit issued by the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) to the University of Hawaii - Hilo to build TMT on Maunakea. /news/tmt20151207 /news/tmt20151207 Mon, 07 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000 ?From Henry Yang, Chair TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory Board of Directors" “We thank the Hawaii Supreme Court for the timely ruling and we respect their decision. TMT will follow the process set forth by the state, as we always have. ?We are assessing our next steps on the way forward. We appreciate and thank the people of Hawaii and our supporters from these last eight-plus years.” /news/tmt20151202 /news/tmt20151202 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000 ?[From University of Hawaii] - A letter from University of Hawai?i President David Lassner to Department of Land and Natural Resources Chair Suzanne Case confirms that the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project site is the last new area on the mountain where a telescope project will be contemplated or sought. /news/tmt20151125 /news/tmt20151125 Wed, 25 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000 A small crew of local workers will go to the Thirty Meter Telescope site this month to conduct site preparation activities, starting with equipment maintenance and repairs. An exact date has not been announced. /news/tmt20151110 /news/tmt20151110 Tue, 10 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000 On the following pages are the results of a statewide scientific public opinion poll conducted in October 2015 by Ward Research, Inc., an independent research firm based in Honolulu, Hawaii. /news/tmt20151109 /news/tmt20151109 Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000 Production on glass segments that will make up Thirty Meter Telescope’s (TMT) primary mirror is underway in Japan, as significant progress continues being made on the telescope’s manufacturing work by many of the participating nations. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20151102 /news/tmt20151102 Mon, 02 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000 “This is an extremely exciting time, with President Obama’s announcement underscoring the significance of Maunakea and Hawaii to astronomy. TMT is honored to be a part of Hawaii’s astronomy community, " - says Henry Yang, Chair of the TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20151019 /news/tmt20151019 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000 [From UC Akamai Workforce Initiative] - The Akamai Workforce Initiative’s Internship Program announces its Student Internship Symposiums in Hilo on Wednesday August 5 from 9 am to 11:30 am at the Institute for Astronomy Auditorium (640 North A‘ohoku Place), on Friday, August 7 at the Keck Observatory’s Hualalai Theater in Waimea and on Maui at the PDC Training Room on Monday, August 10 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20150730 /news/tmt20150730 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000 Thirty-one students and teachers representing each of the Thirty Meter Telescope 91制片厂官网 Observatory partner countries gather in Hilo this weekend for an intensive five-day forum on astronomy and engineering. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20150720 /news/tmt20150720 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000 [From Empire Industries ; VANCOUVER] - The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Industry for Canada, announced on June 30 that Dynamic Structures, a division of Empire Industries Ltd., will receive up to $70 million to build the precision-steel enclosure of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), the world’s largest earth-based telescope. TMT Partners News /news/tmt20150702 /news/tmt20150702 Thu, 02 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000 “This is a difficult day for Hawaii and TMT. As we attempted to begin our work today, we were met by protests that regrettably resulted in some arrests. Boulders blocked our access to the construction site and the Department of Land and Natural Resources deemed it unsafe for us to proceed," - says Henry Yang, chair of the TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory board. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20150624 /news/tmt20150624 Wed, 24 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000 “After more than two months of consultation, education, and dialogue with many stakeholders, we humbly announce that the TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory Board has decided to move ahead to restart the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on the morning of Wednesday, June 24." - says Henry Yang, chair of the TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory board. /news/tmt20150620 /news/tmt20150620 Sat, 20 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000 “Today, it is with enthusiasm and excitement that we announce the intent of our partner universities to establish scholarships, summer internships, graduate program fellowships, and research assistantships in the areas of science and technology for Hawaii’s students," - says Henry Yang, Chair of the TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory Board Education & Outreach /news/tmt20150610 /news/tmt20150610 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000 As part of its commitment to invest in the next generation of scientists and engineers, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project awarded a special grand prize at the recent 2015 Intel 91制片厂官网 Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF). Education & Outreach /news/tmt20150609 /news/tmt20150609 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000 Read statement from UH President David Lassner and UH Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney TMT Partners News /news/tmt20150601 /news/tmt20150601 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000 [From Caltech Submillimeter Observatory] - After almost 29 years, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) will end operations of the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) in Hawaii in September, 2015. TMT Partners News /news/tmt20150528 /news/tmt20150528 Thu, 28 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000 [From the Office of the Governor: HONOLULU] – Governor David Ige today announced his proposed way forward for the stewardship of Mauna Kea. /news/tmt20150526 /news/tmt20150526 Tue, 26 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000 A new document describing the transformational science the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will enable has been released. TMT is a powerful, next-generation astronomical observatory that will begin scanning the skies in the 2020s. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20150507 /news/tmt20150507 Thu, 07 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000 TMT has launched an informational microsite. The website provides additional background on the project, gives answers to the most frequently asked questions, and provides a listing of some balanced news stories. The site can be accessed at: www.MaunakeaandTMT.org. /news/tmt20150413 /news/tmt20150413 Mon, 13 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000 Earlier this week Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the Government of Canada’s intention to provide significant support for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), an international project that will build one of the world’s largest and most advanced astronomical observatories in Hawaii. TMT Partners News /news/tmt20150408 /news/tmt20150408 Wed, 08 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000 [Source -?University of Hawaii News]: The construction phase beginning on the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project on Maunakea on Hawaii Island has prompted protests and media coverage. The telescope is being built in the 525-acre Astronomy Precinct, which is the only area astronomy development can take place. /news/tmt20150406 /news/tmt20150406 Mon, 06 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000 On April 4, 2015 a total lunar eclipse will be visible across the TMT partnership. The moon will be in total eclipse for about 5 minutes, and the eclipse event will last for over 3 hours. The total lunar eclipse, or "blood moon" will be visible in most of North America, South America, Asia and parts of Australia. TMT Partners News /news/tmt20150402 /news/tmt20150402 Thu, 02 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000 TMT will participate again at this year's Journey Through The Universe's Family Science Day and Astronomy Educators in the Classroom. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20150228 /news/tmt20150228 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000 During the week of January 26, 2015, the Thirty Meter Telescope performed a series of "shake tests" in El Segundo, California. A major earthquake was simulated to confirm that the telescope's mirror segments would survive without damage. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20150218 /news/tmt20150218 Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000 The THINK (The Hawaii Island New Knowledge) Fund application at the Pauahi Foundation opened on February 4, 2015. This is a new, multi-year scholarship fund for the Pauahi Foundation. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20150214 /news/tmt20150214 Sat, 14 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000 TMT will host an Open House at the annual American Astronomical Society (AAS) meeting in Seattle, WA on Monday, 5 January, at 5:30 pm, in room 6B. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20141230 /news/tmt20141230 Tue, 30 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Today in New Delhi, officials of the government of India signed documents establishing the country as a full partner in the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project. An international collaboration of institutions in the USA, Canada, Japan, India and China, the TMT project is working towards building a powerful, next-generation astronomical observatory at Mauna Kea in Hawaii. /news/tmt20141202 /news/tmt20141202 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) has launched THINK (The Hawaii Island New Knowledge) Fund to better prepare Hawaii Island students to master STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and to become the workforce for higher paying science and technology jobs in Hawaii’s 21st century economy. TMT’s founding gift of $1 million marks the beginning of the construction phase of astronomy’s next-generation telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20141113 /news/tmt20141113 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000 A painting by TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory Business Manager Phil Lindquist was selected for the "Contemporary Masters, Artistic Eden IV" exhibition at the Pasadena Museum of History. The painting, "Pasadena Power", oil 30" x 30", shows the view of a power plant across from the TMT Project Office. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20141110 /news/tmt20141110 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000 On October 7, 2014, a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony for the next-generation Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will launch a multi-national $1.4 billion project near the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20141003 /news/tmt20141003 Fri, 03 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000 The Union Cabinet of India chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for India's participation in the Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) Project at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA at a total cost of Rs. 1299.8 crores from 2014-23. TMT Partners News /news/tmt20140924 /news/tmt20140924 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000 A team of astronomers from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), the Konan University and the University of Hyogo in Japan, the University of Notre Dame, and New Mexico State University has used the 8.2 m Subaru Telescope to discover a distant low-mass star, dubbed SDSS J0018-0939. This special star exhibits the peculiar chemical abundance ratios associated with the process of creating new atomic nuclei (nucleosynthesis) in a first-generation very-massive star. Until now, no observational evidence has supported numerical simulations of the existence of very-massive stars among the first generation of stars formed after the Big Bang. TMT Partners News /news/tmt20140827 /news/tmt20140827 Wed, 27 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Following the approval of a sublease on July 25 by the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) announces the beginning of the construction phase on Hawaii Island and around the world throughout the TMT international partnership. Contingent on that decision, the TMT 91制片厂官网 Observatory (TIO) Board of Directors, the project's new governing body, recently approved the initial phase of construction, with activities near the summit of Mauna Kea scheduled to start later this year. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20140728 /news/tmt20140728 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000 The second annual Pacific Astronomy and Engineering Summit (PAES), sponsored by the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) and hosted by the Imiloa Astronomy Center, will gather high school students and educators from the TMT partner countries: Japan, China, India, Canada and the United States (Hawaii Island). Education & Outreach /news/tmt20140719 /news/tmt20140719 Sat, 19 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project will unveil a polished mirror assembly - a key piece of astronomy's next-generation telescope - at the 2014 annual meeting of the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA). The assembly will be unveiled at a reception at 5:30pm EDT, Monday, June 9 at the Hotel Chateau Laurier, in Quebec City, Canada. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20140609 /news/tmt20140609 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000 TMT and NOAO will host the second TMT Science Forum at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona on July 17-19, 2014. The TMT Science Forum is an an annual gathering of astronomers, educators, and observatory staff, who meet to explore TMT science, instrumentation, observatory operations, archiving and data processing, astronomy education, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) issues. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20140506 /news/tmt20140506 Tue, 06 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Judge Greg Nakamura of the Third Circuit Court of Hawaii ruled in favor of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Wednesday, upholding an approval by the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) of a Conservation District Use Permit for TMT. This moves the $1.3 billion project another step closer to starting construction in the summer of 2014. /news/tmt20140404 /news/tmt20140404 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Join TMT at the Journey through the Universe 10th anniversary celebration in association with ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center’s 8th annual Family Science Day on Sunday, March 9, 2014. This celebration is free to the community and the first 500 keiki (kids) visitors will receive a free gift. Enjoy activity booths, out-of-this world astronomy presentations, and much more. /news/tmt20140211 /news/tmt20140211 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie gave his State of the State Address on Tuesday, January 21. In his remarks, Governor Abercrombie discussed astronomy in Hawaii and the role of TMT. /news/tmt20140122 /news/tmt20140122 Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Over three hundred fifth grade girls from the west side of Hawaii Island gathered in Kona on November 14 for the annual Girls Exploring Math and Science, or GEMS, event. /news/70 /news/70 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000 The TMT Collaborative Board of Directors met in Beijing, China this week. The Board meets quarterly and this marks the first time the Board has gathered in China. /news/tmt20131024 /news/tmt20131024 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) has instituted 91制片厂官网 Science Development Teams (ISDTs). These have been established to foster scientific collaboration across the TMT partnership and beyond, into the broader astronomical community. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20131019 /news/tmt20131019 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000 TMT-Japan announces a two-day workshop, Astronomy in the TMT Era, in Tokyo, Japan, October 16-17, 2013. TMT Partners News /news/tmt20130827 /news/tmt20130827 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000 The first Pacific Astronomy and Engineering Education Summit, sponsored by TMT and the County of Hawaii, and hosted at the Imiloa Astronomy Center and the University of Hawaii at Hilo, brought together high school students and educators from China, Japan, India, Canada and the Big Island for four days of intense learning and interaction. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20130825 /news/tmt20130825 Sun, 25 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project announces today that all of the scientific authorities of the TMT partners have signed a Master Agreement. The Master Agreement document establishes a formal agreement amongst the international parties defining the project goals, establishing a governance structure and defining member party rights, obligations and benefits. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20130726 /news/tmt20130726 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000 To foster global collaboration in science, engineering and education, the Thirty Meter Telescope and the County of Hawaii are co-sponsoring a 4-day international education summit from July 23 through 26, 2013 at various locations at UH Hilo and the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20130629 /news/tmt20130629 Sat, 29 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000 In an important milestone for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project, Japan, one of the project's five international partners, has indicated its strong national backing for the next-generation astronomical observatory. /news/tmt20130603 /news/tmt20130603 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000 TMT, in partnership Akamai Workforce Initiative (AWI) and Hawaii Community College, encourages high school students to sign up for this summer's Akamai Observatory Career Exploration session, offered June 10th through June 21st at Kealakehe High School. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20130520 /news/tmt20130520 Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Friday marked another important step forward for the future of astronomical discovery and economic opportunity on Hawaii Island. The Hawaiian Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) announced that it has granted a permit to the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project to build and operate the next-generation observatory near the summit of Mauna Kea. Engineering & Technology /news/tmt20130413 /news/tmt20130413 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Today the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a cooperative agreement to the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Observatory Corporation to explore a potential partnership between the organizations. /news/tmt20130318 /news/tmt20130318 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.tmt.org/news-center/tmt-active-hawaii-island-robotics-action Education & Outreach /news/81 /news/81 Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.tmt.org/news-center/astronomy-classroom Education & Outreach /news/82 /news/82 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000 If the success of the people behind the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project is any measure, this planned next-generation astronomical observatory looks set to accomplish a great deal. The latest accolade is the awarding of a 2012 Franklin Institute Award in electrical engineering to the TMT project scientist, Jerry Nelson. The winners were announced today by the Philadelphia-based Franklin Institute, which is one of the country's oldest and premier centers of science education and development. TMT Partners News /news/tmt122011 /news/tmt122011 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000 The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has been rated the world's number one university in the 2011–2012 Times Higher Education global ranking of the top 200 universities, displacing Harvard University from the top spot for the first time in the survey's eight-year history. Caltech is a founding partner in the TMT project. TMT Partners News /news/tmt20111007 /news/tmt20111007 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000 A chance encounter and pitch from Holualoa PTO Treasurer Kari Kimura turned into a new laptop computer from the Thirty Meter Telescope for Holualoa Elementary School's First Robotics Program. Community Engagement /news/tmt20111020 /news/tmt20111020 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 The world's largest celebration of science and engineering, the USA Science & Engineering Festival, has announced its return to Washington, D.C., April 28-29, 2012, and TMT will once again be a sponsor and exhibitor. Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, hosts of the Discovery Channel's hit TV series MythBusters, and Bill Nye the Science Guy are among the science superstars signed up to join the Festival Expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and other key locations in the greater District of Columbia area. The 2012 Festival will include a new book fair and career pavilion as part of the Finale Expo. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20111004a /news/tmt20111004a Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 The world's largest celebration of science and engineering, the USA Science & Engineering Festival, has announced its return to Washington, D.C., April 28-29, 2012, and TMT will once again be a sponsor and exhibitor. Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, hosts of the Discovery Channel's hit TV series MythBusters, and Bill Nye the Science Guy are among the science superstars signed up to join the Festival Expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and other key locations in the greater District of Columbia area. The 2012 Festival will include a new book fair and career pavilion as part of the Finale Expo. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20111004 /news/tmt20111004 Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 Masanori Iye, the director of the TMT project office at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), has been awarded the prestigious 2010 Toray Science and Technology Prize. TMT Partners News /news/tmt20110906 /news/tmt20110906 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 With the sharpest and most sensitive images ever taken in the near infrared, TMT and IRIS will open our eyes to the Universe in exciting new ways, exploring everything from dwarf planets at the orbit of Pluto to the most distant galaxies ever explored near the dawn of cosmic time. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20110729 /news/tmt20110729 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000 Although known for its gorgeous beaches and aloha lifestyle, the state of Hawaii is also home to a host of impressive and successful student robotics programs. The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project is sponsoring several of these robotics clubs with the goal of encouraging fun and learning today that can translate into careers in science and technology tomorrow. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20110705 /news/tmt20110705 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000 Although known for its gorgeous beaches and aloha lifestyle, the state of Hawaii is also home to a host of impressive and successful student robotics programs. The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project is sponsoring several of these robotics clubs with the goal of encouraging fun and learning today that can translate into careers in science and technology tomorrow. /news/tmt20110705a /news/tmt20110705a Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000 Sandra Dawson presents the Universe Tonight monthly talk. Education & Outreach /news/tmt20110620 /news/tmt20110620 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000 A highly successful internship program run by the Akamai Workforce Initiative (AWI) is starting another summer session this week, thanks in part to funding from the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project. /news/tmt20110616 /news/tmt20110616 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000 At the White House today, President Barack Obama met in the Oval Office with the seven U.S. recipients of the 2010 Kavli Prizes to recognize and honor their seminal contributions to the three fields for which the Prizes are awarded -- astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. /news/tmt20110607 /news/tmt20110607 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000 Special Event of the 91制片厂官网 Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2011: As part of the 4th 91制片厂官网 Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging (ISPDI 2011), May 24-26, 2011 in Beijing, China, scientists and engineers from the US and China are meeting for a special colloquium on the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). The colloquium is a milestone in the TMT international partnership for development and operation of TMT. /news/tmt20110523 /news/tmt20110523 Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000 The first stars and tiny galaxies formed about 150-300 million years after the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago. They were the seeds that led to today’s myriad galaxies, including our own Milky Way. But the details of when and how they developed are still unclear. Science & Astronomy /news/278 /news/278 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000 The University of Hawaii has applied for and been granted a Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) to build and operate the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Mauna Kea. The permit was granted by the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). /news/tmt20110228 /news/tmt20110228 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000 Following the successful conclusion of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s Environmental Impact Statement and Final Design Review of the observatory enclosure, TMT worked with acclaimed science animator and producer Dana Berry on a new, more accurate set of renderings of the observatory and its support building as they will appear on Mauna Kea. /news/tmt20110204 /news/tmt20110204 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000 Richard Ellis, member of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s (TMT) Board of Directors and Science Advisory Committee, has received the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. Awarded annually since 1824, the Gold Medal is the Society's highest honor and one of the premier prizes in astronomy. Ellis, Caltech’s Steele Professor of Astronomy, joins a long list of distinguished recipients, including several from Caltech: Don Anderson, Peter Goldreich, Gerald Wasserburg, Maarten Schmidt, Fritz Zwicky, Jesse Greenstein, Ira Bowen, and George Ellery Hale. /news/tmt20110114 /news/tmt20110114 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope’s (TMT) primary mirror has much in common with the 10-meter mirrors on the Keck telescopes. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20101124 /news/tmt20101124 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000 The testing campaign to identify the best site for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) has been one of the most complete atmospheric studies in recent years. The TMT project office and the U.S. National Science Foundation provided funding for the site testing campaign, led jointly by the TMT and the Association of University Research in Astronomy (AURA). /news/tmt20101119 /news/tmt20101119 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will enable astronomers to explore the universe in unprecedented clarity when it achieves “first light” later this decade. The public, however, will get an exciting preview of what TMT will observe as part of the two-day expo for the USA Science and Engineering Festival, October 23 and 24 in Washington, D.C. /news/tmt20101019 /news/tmt20101019 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000 On August 13, 2010, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released its Astro2010 report,?New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics, which indentified a Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope (GSMT) as crucial for ground-based astronomy in the coming decade. The report also recommended that the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) immediately select a GSMT partner. /news/tmt20100813 /news/tmt20100813 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Sometime during the first 300 million years after the Big Bang, the first tiny seeds of galaxies began to collapse and form stars. As these galaxies grew during the subsequent 300–400 million years they ionized the hydrogen gas that permeated the cosmos. /news/tmt20100714 /news/tmt20100714 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000 The Minister of Science and Technology of India, Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, announced today the decision of India to join the Thirty Meter Telescope Project (TMT) as an Observer. TMT is the next-generation astronomical observatory that is scheduled to begin scientific operations in 2018 on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. /news/tmt20100624 /news/tmt20100624 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Charles Steidel,?the Lee A. DuBridge Professor of Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology and co-chair of the Thirty Meter Telescope Science Advisory Committee, is the recipient of the 2010 Cosmology Prize of The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation in recognition of his revolutionary studies of the most distant galaxies in the Universe. /news/tmt20100617 /news/tmt20100617 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 91制片厂官网 a hundred experts in astronomy, information technology, and applied computer science have gathered at Caltech to define a new field at the intersection of these disciplines. The emerging field of astroinformatics reflects how science is changing in the 21st century, powered by the information-technology revolution. /news/tmt20100616 /news/tmt20100616 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Jerry Nelson, project scientist for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) and professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, will share the $1 million Kavli Prize in Astrophysics with two other researchers for their innovations in the field of telescope design. Nelson’s engineering and scientific innovations enabled the building of a new class of large telescopes that revolutionized the science of astronomy. /news/tmt20100606 /news/tmt20100606 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Quest for the Best Window on the Universe:?Location may be important in real estate, but it’s essential for astronomy, especially when the home you’re building is for the world’s most advanced and powerful telescope, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). ?But how do you find the best and what makes one site better than another? ? /news/tmt201004028 /news/tmt201004028 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000 One of the most important milestones in the development and construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is the precision polishing of TMT’s primary mirror segments. Each of the 492 hexagonal segments, which measure 1.44 meters across from corner-to-corner, must have a surface that is accurate to 100 nanometers (about 1,000 times thinner than a sheet of paper). /news/tmt20100402 /news/tmt20100402 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000 When the 10-meter Keck I telescope first became fully operational in 1992, the only planets known to exist were those in our own solar system. Models of planet formation dutifully reproduced the nine known examples, and most astronomers thought that when other planets were finally seen, those solar systems would look like our own, with giant Jovian planets in the outer regions and small rocky planets in the inner parts. /news/tmt20100401 /news/tmt20100401 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Astronomers have found more than 400 alien worlds orbiting distant stars. So far, nearly all of these exoplanets are bigger than Jupiter and hotter than Mercury – places that appear very unfriendly to life. But astronomers are now starting to identify smaller, more intriguing objects, including potential water worlds and so-called super-Earths. Next-generation telescopes may soon close in on the ultimate goal: Finding alien planets that resemble Earth and may share the same wet, warm cocktail of chemicals that gave rise to life here. /news/tmt20100312 /news/tmt20100312 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope Project (TMT) is launching a new database containing five years of atmospheric data from the telescope’s initial five candidates sites: Cerro Tolar, Cerro Armazones, and Cerro Tolonchar, Chile; San Pedro Martir, Mexico; and Mauna Kea, Hawaii, the site selected for TMT. A?website containing the entire dataset, the largest of its kind, will be released free-of-charge to the public today. /news/tmt20100105 /news/tmt20100105 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000 The search for Earth-like planets, the nature and distribution of dark matter, and the quest to image the first stars and galaxies are just some of the science challenges that will be addressed by the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). /news/tmt20091208 /news/tmt20091208 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000 “We warmly welcome our Chinese colleagues, who will expand the international involvement in the Thirty Meter Telescope Project,” said Professor Ray Carlberg, the Canadian Large Optical Telescope project director and a TMT board member. “This new collaboration broadens the pool of talent and demonstrates the interest of national governments in TMT.” /news/tmt20091117 /news/tmt20091117 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is partnering with the SETI Institute's radio/podcast program Are We Alone? by underwriting a series of astronomy-related segments during the year. Learn more and listen on our?Podcasts page. /news/tmt20090914 /news/tmt20090914 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000 To ensure that the site chosen for TMT would enable the telescope to achieve its full potential, a global satellite survey was conducted, from which five outstanding candidate sites were chosen for further ground-based studies of atmospheric stability, wind patterns, temperature variation, and other meteorological characteristics that would affect the performance of the telescope. /news/tmt20090721 /news/tmt20090721 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000 The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the proposed $1.2 billion Thirty Meter Telescope Project (TMT) will appear Saturday, May 23 in the Office of Environmental Quality Control’s (OEQC) Environmental Notice. The draft document details the environmental, community, economic, and cultural impacts of locating TMT on Maunakea*. /news/tmt20090522 /news/tmt20090522 Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000 In the world of scientific research, bigger is often better. This is especially true for astronomy, where giant telescopes are the essential tools for studying the faintest whispers of cosmic energy. /news/tmt20090502 /news/tmt20090502 Sat, 02 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope project (TMT) presented a $31,000 grant to Waiakea High School to support the school’s acclaimed Hawaii Project for Robotics Education. TMT representative Sandra Dawson presented the check to Waiakea teacher Dale Olive at a ceremony on Monday, April 6. /news/tmt20090424 /news/tmt20090424 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000 The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) marked a major milestone on its way to becoming the world’s most advanced and capable optical telescope. A key part of the telescope’s adaptive optics (AO) system, which will give TMT the sharpest eye possible on the Universe, was successfully tested and is ready to become actual hardware. /news/tmt20090420 /news/tmt20090420 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Astronomers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and their colleagues used a rare cosmic alignment and modern adaptive optics to image a distant galaxy with similar exquisite resolution promised by the future Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). This achievement provided detailed insight into the nature of a young star-forming galaxy as it appeared only two billion years after the Big Bang, and determined how that galaxy may eventually evolve to become a system like our own Milky Way. Science & Astronomy /news/tmt20081008 /news/tmt20081008 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000 After completing a worldwide survey unprecedented in rigor and detail of astronomical sites for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), the TMT Observatory Corporation board of directors has selected two outstanding sites, one in each hemisphere, for further consideration. Cerro Armazones lies in Chile's Atacama Desert, and Mauna Kea is on Hawai'i Island. /news/tmt20080515 /news/tmt20080515 Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000 The California Institute of Technology and the University of California have received a $200 million commitment over nine years from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation toward the further development and construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). Funding under this commitment will be shared equally between the two universities, with matching gifts from the two institutions expected to bring the total to $300 million. When built, TMT will be the largest telescope in the world. /news/tmt20071205 /news/tmt20071205 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0000 The detailed design for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) developed by a U.S.-Canadian team is capable of delivering on the full promise of its enormous light-collecting area, according to the findings of an independent panel of experts. /news/tmt20060601 /news/tmt20060601 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 00:00:00 +0000