{"id":116285,"date":"2020-04-17T15:37:26","date_gmt":"2020-04-18T01:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=116285"},"modified":"2020-04-17T15:37:26","modified_gmt":"2020-04-18T01:37:26","slug":"ifa-hi-star-berrigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/04\/17\/ifa-hi-star-berrigan\/","title":{"rendered":"Award winning student inspired at UH<\/abbr> astronomy camp"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"two
Luke Berrigan and J.D. Armstrong<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Luke Berrigan, a soon-to-be junior at King Kekaulike High School on Maui, is the latest to receive academic recognition for his work in astronomy, guided by the University of Â鶹´«Ã½\u2019s<\/span> Institute for Astronomy<\/a> (IfA<\/abbr>). Berrigans research on the origin of ʻOumuamua,<\/span> an interstellar asteroid first spotted by UH<\/abbr> astronomers<\/a>, was awarded second place for the Best in Category for Physics and Astronomy at the 2020 Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> State Science and Engineering Fair.<\/p>\n

The odd interstellar object first detected in 2017 by IfA<\/abbr>\u2019s Pan-STARRS facility on Haleakalā, brought worldwide focus once again to Â鶹´«Ã½\u2019s<\/span> observatories and earned an ʻōlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> name meaning “distant messenger reaching out to us.”<\/p>\n

\"\"
This artist’s impression shows the first detected interstellar asteroid ʻOumuamua<\/span>. (Credit: ESO\/M. Kornmesser)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Berrigan\u2019s project, “Investigating the Source of ʻOumuamua,<\/span>” involved finding a source of the object\u2019s trajectory toward the solar system from its last known home in the galaxy.<\/p>\n

As a ninth-grader in 2018, Berrigan became interested in the IfA<\/abbr> program, HI STAR<\/abbr> (Hawaii Student\/Teacher Astronomy Research)<\/a>. The one-week astronomy “camp” is designed to immerse students in the scientific process of inquiry, research and presentation skills. Guided by his IfA<\/abbr> mentor and HI STAR<\/abbr><\/a> director J.D. Armstrong<\/strong>, Berrigan launched his study on the mysterious cosmic visitor. This interest culminated in awards at both the Maui District and Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> State Science Fairs.<\/p>\n

“What I love about the HI STAR<\/abbr> program is that it lets young people like me who have an interest in astronomy to come and learn about it and do projects with it,” he explained. “J.D. was my mentor. He helps anyone who wants to learn, and when somebody has questions, he will help explain it to them in a way that makes sense\u2014he is just a really great mentor.”<\/p>\n