The Institute for Astronomy (IfA) is a research unit within the
University of Hawaii
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
system, led by Doug Simons as Director. IfA main headquarters are located at 2680 Woodlawn Drive in
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island o ...
, , adjacent to the
University of Hawaii at Mānoa
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...
campus. Additional facilities are located at
Pukalani
Pukalani is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 8,299 at the 2020 census. The general volcano-slope region, including nearby Makawao and Kula, is referred to as upcountry by locals, and is ...
,
Maui and
Hilo on
Hawaii island
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii ) is the largest island in the United States, located in the state of Hawaii. It is the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of volcanic islands in the North Pacific Ocean. With an area of , it has 63% of t ...
(the Big Island). IfA employs over 150 astronomers and support staff. IfA astronomers perform research into
Solar System
The Solar System Capitalization of the name varies. The International Astronomical Union, the authoritative body regarding astronomical nomenclature, specifies capitalizing the names of all individual astronomical objects but uses mixed "Solar ...
objects, stars, galaxies and
cosmology
Cosmology () is a branch of physics and metaphysics dealing with the nature of the universe. The term ''cosmology'' was first used in English in 1656 in Thomas Blount's ''Glossographia'', and in 1731 taken up in Latin by German philosopher ...
.
The Institute for Astronomy was founded in 1967 to conduct research and to manage the observatory complexes at
Haleakalā
Haleakalā (; Hawaiian: ), or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by another volcano, Mauna Kahalawai, also referred to as the West ...
, Maui and the
Mauna Kea Observatory
The Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) are a group of independent astronomical research facilities and large telescope observatories that are located at the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, United States. The facilities are locate ...
on the summit of
Mauna Kea.
It has approximately 55 faculty and employs over 300 people.
See also
*
Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System
The Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) is a robotic astronomical survey and early warning system optimized for detecting smaller near-Earth objects a few weeks to days before they impact Earth.
Funded by NASA, and developed an ...
(ATLAS)
*
B612 Foundation
The B612 Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation headquartered in Mill Valley, California, United States, dedicated to planetary science and planetary defense against asteroids and other near-Earth object (NEO) impacts. It is led mainl ...
References
External links
The Institute for Astronomy
University of Hawaiʻi
Astronomy institutes and departments
Research institutes in Hawaii
Research institutes established in 1967
1967 establishments in Hawaii
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