UH Institute for Astronomy
Gemini Observatory
UH Hilo Physics and Astronomy Dept
Friday, October 29th brought over one hundred people (and a few goblins) to the University of Hawaii at Hilo UCB 100 Classroom Building to hear from the Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute. Dr Steven Beckwith, whose father was born in Honolulu, is of Hawaiian heritage, and spoke about some of the compelling images from the Hubble Space Telescope. These images, taken with the Advanced Camera for Surveys comprise the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, a study that is looking at the very edge of the observable universe - at galaxies nearly 12.9 billion light years from earth. "Work being done on Mauna Kea is complementary to the research being made with the Hubble", says Beckwith, describing the fact that astronomers still require large ground based telescopes to perform followup analysis. Beckwith also spoke of the stalled Hubble Service Mission, a task that will install new, more sensitive instruments, but requires the Space Shuttle to resume operations for missions other than the International Space Station. Beckwith recalled observing on Mauna Kea, and even of being "kicked out of Jimmy's Drive Inn" in Hilo. This must certainly be a distinction no other Space Telescope Director can boast of.
