2 Sunday, December 24, 2017 So much to be proud of Some of the big questions generated by 20th century astronomy may be answered in the 21st century, and the Maunakea Observatories will be key to finding those answers. Our knowledge of the origin and makeup of the universe is growing exponentially. A couple of decades ago, the only planets known to exist were in our solar system. Now we know that most stars have planets, and thousands of them have been detected directly, including from Maunakea. Likewise, black holes were theoretical constructs throughout most of the 20th century. Now we know they are real, with some of the most compelling observations made to date coming from Maunakea. What are some of the big answers that are potentially on the horizon stemming from the Maunakea Observatories? First, a closer look at Hawaii’s only billion-dollar scientific research complex is needed to better understand how these answers will emerge. Based upon the number and quality of publications, the Maunakea Observatories are collectively No. 1 worldwide in their scientific product. This is attributable to many things, including the exquisite nature of the site that produces some of the sharpest views of the cosmos on our planet. It is also due to decades of investment by governments from around the world that sponsor pure research, like astronomy. The bulk of the $70 million that is invested annually to operate the Maunakea Observatories passes directly into the local economy through the salaries of our local staffs. Maunakea astronomy is an aggregator of innovation, new knowledge, clean high-tech jobs, educational opportunities, international funding, technology development, and global esteem in perhaps the most ancient and revered field of science. Thanks to the 100-plus local companies that support the Maunakea Observatories, nearly $100 million in annual economic impact is felt across Hawaii Island. Astronomy’s economic impact statewide ($175 million) is about half that of agriculture and forestry combined — a respectable contributor to Hawaii’s economy by any measure. With a 50-year legacy, the Maunakea Observatories are connected to — and derived from — our community in countless ways. Community engagement and support, particularly of our keiki through education, is natural and central to the future of Hawaii astronomy. Key programs include: • The Journey Through the Universe program that touches the better part of 10,000 students each year; • AstroDays at the Prince Kuhio Plaza and Kona Commons that draw thousands; • The Kama‘aina Observatory Experience that provides monthly programs dedicated to the cultural, environmental, and scientific dimensions of Maunakea; • The Akamai Intern Program that has trained hundreds of local college students in STEM fields; • The Maunakea Scholars program that opens the doors to the Maunakea Observatories to high school students across the state to conduct their own research projects. All of these impactful local programs demonstrate the commitment of the Maunakea Observatories to the community from which we come. Of course, what makes all of this possible is the people of Hawaii, in particular those of the First Nation of Hawaii that first called these islands home centuries ago and created a lasting cultural treasure that serves as the foundation for Hawaii’s future. None of this would be possible without their mana‘o and timeless lessons connecting earth, sea, sky and spirit. Through their wisdom, we are reminded of the sacred nature of this space, Maunakea, which links us to distant space. This ancient endeavor, astronomy, is framed today by Maunakea. It serves as a beacon to find our way home, a pristine portal on the universe, and in time, a symbol of peace. Nowhere else on Earth does this conjunction occur. Nowhere. With that as background, what are some of those discoveries on our horizon when viewed from Maunakea? Having helped establish how common planets are in our galaxy, next-gen research will focus on finding nearby habitable planets by dedicating sophisticated new instruments and large blocks of observing time to sweep the sky for the faint signatures of distant worlds. If the Thirty Meter Telescope is built, biomarkers in the atmospheres of these planets stemming from life may be discovered, etching an accomplishment into the annals of history for Hawaii that will stand out for centuries. Having first prov-en that a massive black hole is lurking in the heart of our Milky Way galaxy, observations are being conducted world-wide (and, critically, from Maunakea) that will be used to capture an image of that black hole — another first. Fantastically powerful new instrumentation under development now will be used to study and perhaps identify the nature of the dominant form of matter in the universe — dark matter. The recent Noble Prize winning obser-vations by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational- Wave Observatory of grav-itational waves emitted from merging black holes has rekindled interest in the possibility that dark matter isn’t some form of exotic particle, but countless primordial black holes created during the Big Bang. If true, in a startling sense, black holes may be critical for life. Intrigued? Welcome to the frontier of new knowledge about the universe, about ourselves. We, the people of Hawaii, have so much to be proud of, including the beautiful Hawaiian culture that grounds our communities, and a legacy of discovery that in this century will help point the way for centuries to come. Doug Simons is executive director of the 3.6-meter Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and former director of the Gemini Observatory. This column was written at the request of the Tribune-Herald specifically for this publication. Doug Simons Executive director, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Credits Editor David Bock Writer Tom Callis Photography Hollyn Johnson Design Bonnie L. Rogers On the cover Photo Andrew Richard Hara Website www.andrewhara.com Email ahara@andrewhara.com Hawaii Tribune-Herald
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