W. M. Keck Observatory

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The W. M. Keck Observatory operates the two largest, and among the most scientifically productive telescopes on Earth

10/25/2026

🌱 What does it mean to observe at Keck and connect with the place that makes that science possible?

For Caltech observer K-Ryan Hinds, a recent visit to Hawaiʻi included not only time dedicated to astronomy, but also time spent caring for young native and endangered plants at the Waimea State Tree Nursery.

K-Ryan participated through the Pilina and Kōkua Initiative (PKI), a partnership between W. M. Keck Observatory, the University of California system, and Caltech that connects visiting observers with opportunities to learn about Hawaiʻi, build relationships, and contribute through meaningful service.

“It was a great experience volunteering at the Waimea State Tree Nursery. I learned a lot about the history and significance of native and endangered plants and enjoyed speaking with the staff and other volunteers. It was very eye-opening, and I thoroughly enjoyed helping care for and propagate these important young plants.”

Pilina speaks to relationship and connection, while kōkua speaks to helping and contributing. Together, they reflect two values central to our work at Keck: service and stewardship.

Mahalo to K-Ryan and the Waimea State Tree Nursery team for sharing their time, knowledge, and care. 🌿

W. M. Keck Observatory Caltech Hawaii DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources)

10/11/2026

How do you find the home of a fast radio burst from the distant universe when even one of the world’s most powerful optical instruments can’t reveal its host galaxy?

For Professor J. Xavier Prochaska and his collaborators, the search involved MeerKAT, observations with Keck Observatory’s powerful DEIMOS instrument, and ultimately NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

“The Keck+LRIS combination is as powerful as it gets for finding faint, distant galaxies from the ground. We pointed it right at the location of the FRB and looked as deeply as we could, but there was simply nothing to see. We immediately concluded: if we wanted to find the source, we had to go to space.”

Their findings pinpoint the host galaxy of the most distant fast radio burst detected to date, offering new clues about how and where these mysterious cosmic signals originate.

🔗 Read the story: https://keckobservatory.org/frb20240304b/

10/06/2026

How is AI changing the way we explore ocean and space?

Find out tonight at “Sea Meets the Stars,” a free ʻohana astronomy event featuring J. Xavier Prochaska, Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Professor Prochaska studies both the cosmos and the ocean—and will explore how powerful new tools, including artificial intelligence, are helping scientists uncover patterns across these seemingly very different worlds.

Join us for an engaging evening exploring the connections between sea and sky, followed by audience Q&A.

📅 Tonight — Tuesday, October 6
🕖 7:00–9:00 p.m.
🚪6:45 p.m.
📍 Kahilu Theatre | Waimea
🎟️ FREE ʻOHANA EVENT

Bring your curiosity, bring your questions, and bring the whole ʻohana. We’ll see you tonight!

Can’t make it? The talk will be recorded and shared on Keck Observatory’s website and YouTube channel following the event.

10/03/2026

What a difference a little atmospheric correction makes.

Earlier this week, Keck II pointed at the Moon and captured these two images of the same sunlit mountain ridge near the crater Klaproth, close to the lunar south pole—just minutes apart. In one, the adaptive-optics loop was closed; in the other, it was open. The difference shows, in striking detail, what Earth’s atmosphere does to an image before adaptive optics gets to work.

With the AO loop closed, Keck resolved features as small as about 135 meters across from roughly 380,000 kilometers away. That approaches the resolution of Hubble and NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s wide-angle camera, making this one of the sharpest infrared views of the Moon ever captured from the ground.

Even more remarkable: it’s about five times sharper than Keck’s lunar images from 2009, thanks in part to HAKA, the new deformable mirror installed on the Keck II telescope this year.

It’s a great example of how ground- and space-based telescopes can complement one another. Hubble and LRO observe the Moon from space in visible and ultraviolet wavelengths, while Keck’s adaptive optics can deliver comparable sharpness in the infrared. A spacecraft can map the Moon from orbit; Keck can turn toward it from Maunakea whenever needed and observe it across the wavelengths its instruments can access.

Adaptive optics may have been developed to sharpen our view of stars and galaxies, but it proved it can do something pretty impressive with a mountain on the Moon, too.

09/27/2026

How do we become better stewards of the places we are privileged to serve?

That question brought representatives from W. M. Keck Observatory to the 33rd Annual Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference on Oʻahu this past summer, where more than 1,000 practitioners, researchers, cultural practitioners, educators, community leaders, and policymakers gathered from across Hawaiʻi and beyond to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and advance conservation across the islands.

"For me, being welcomed into that space felt like an important step toward strengthening relationships, rebuilding trust, and creating space for healing," said Kenika Lorenzo-Elarco, Community Engagement and Workforce Development Manager.

"If we are privileged to work on Maunakea, then we have a kuleana to continually ask how we can be better caretakers, better partners, and better members of the community we are part of.”

Being better stewards starts with listening. Read more about the conversations, connections, and lessons from the 2026 Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference that continue to inform our journey: https://keckobservatory.org/hiconcon2026/

09/25/2026

Some sights never become ordinary. ✨

At W. M. Keck Observatory one of those sights is the glow of our laser guide stars stretching into the night sky above Maunakea.

Captured by Night Attendant Angelu Ramos, this photo shows the Keck telescopes with our laser guide star (LGS) adaptive optics (AO) systems illuminating the sky. These lasers help astronomers overcome the blurring effects of Earth’s atmosphere, giving them sharper views of the universe.

But for the people who work alongside this technology, there’s something more than the science in the moment. There’s a sense of wonder that never quite wears off.

“The lasers are a sight I will never get tired of seeing. Never. It’s such an absolutely unreal but extremely humbling privilege to witness an observational feat in action, especially from a few footsteps away.” — Angelu Ramos

Mahalo to Angelu for sharing this beautiful view and a glimpse of what it’s like to witness these remarkable moments up close. 💫

09/20/2026

Event Alert 🚨

What secrets will the ocean and universe reveal when we tap into their hidden patterns? 🌊✨

In our next Community Astronomy Talk “Sea Meets the Stars,” Professor Xavier Prochaska will share groundbreaking insights on how scientists are harnessing cutting-edge tools to unlock new discoveries in both worlds. From cosmic images to deep-sea explorations, researchers are uncovering unprecedented amounts of data. By leveraging AI and rigorous research, we can uncover game-changing connections and drive meaningful progress.

Join us for an inspiring talk, followed by an audience Q&A!

🗓 Tues. Oct. 6 , doors at 6:45pm
📍Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
🎟 Free and open to all, seating is first come

09/16/2026

Astronomers have confirmed the youngest exoplanet detected so far, offering a rare glimpse into the earliest stages of planetary formation. The planet, known as Elias 2-24 b, is still actively gathering material from the disk of gas and dust surrounding its young host star, allowing scientists to study a giant planet while it is still growing.

The breakthrough came from a decade of observations and an unexpected discovery in the Keck Observatory Archive. But how? 👉https://keckobservatory.org/elias224b/

📽W. M. Keck Observatory / Adam Makarenko

08/26/2026

Join Staff Astronomer Preethi Krishnamoorthy and Adaptive Optics Scientist Avinash Surendran as they explain how W. M. Keck Observatory takes the twinkle out of stars at the Hawai'i Keiki Museum's upcoming Kona Science Cafe:

📅Thursday, August 27
⌚beginning at 5pm HST

This event is FREE and open to everyone.

Poets love twinkling stars. Astronomers… not so much. From early skywatchers to today’s giant mountaintop telescopes, humans have continually invented new ways to explore the universe. Embark on a light-filled adventure through the evolution of telescopes, clever mirrors, and the quest to ‘untwinkle’ the stars. Along the way, learn how every new way of looking has changed not only what we can see in the night sky, but the questions we can ask about it.

07/19/2026

Every night of science begins with caring for the place where it happens.

Meet James Chong and Ashley Hooks, members of Keck Observatory's Infrastructure team.

Every day, they help care for the facilities that supports world-leading astronomy. Their work reflects a commitment to service and stewardship, expressed through the care they bring to the observatory, their respect for ʻāina, and their connection to the communities that shape and sustain Hawaiʻi.

They help ensure the Observatory is ready to support astronomical research in one of the world's most unique environments. Their story is a reminder that behind every night of science are dedicated people whose care, skill, and perseverance help make discovery possible.

🎥 Created in partnership with By Confluence, a Hawaiʻi-based creative studio.

Address

65-1120 Mamalahoa Highway
Kamuela, HI
96743

Telephone

+18088857887

Website

http://www.keckobservatory.org/

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