{"id":217969,"date":"2025-06-26T12:00:55","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T22:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=217969"},"modified":"2025-06-30T13:51:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T23:51:27","slug":"maunakea-uh-telescope-global-honor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/06\/26\/maunakea-uh-telescope-global-honor\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> telescope on Maunakea earns global honor"},"content":{"rendered":"
Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]
\"88
UH<\/abbr>88 circa 1970s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

The University of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span>\u2019s 2.2-meter (88 inch) telescope<\/a> on Maunakea has been recognized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE<\/abbr>) as an IEEE<\/abbr> Milestone, a significant honor spotlighting innovations that changed the world.<\/p>\n

\"Group
The IEEE<\/abbr> Milestone plaque is mounted on the UH<\/abbr>88 on Maunakea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dedicated in 1970, the telescope, commonly referred to as the UH<\/abbr>88, was both the world\u2019s highest and the first computer-controlled telescope at the time. Innovations developed or tested by the UH<\/abbr>88 have shaped astronomy worldwide and include breakthrough digital imaging, adaptive optics and the HAWAII near-infrared detectors<\/a> used on NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis recognition speaks to the visionary work of UH<\/abbr> astronomers and engineers who transformed UH<\/abbr>88 into a platform for groundbreaking discovery,\u201d said Mark Chun, director of the telescope. \u201cFor more than five decades, their innovations have not only shaped the telescope\u2019s legacy, but also helped push the boundaries of what\u2019s possible in astronomy.\u201d<\/p>\n

To commemorate this milestone, a bronze plaque unveiling took place on June 26 at the UH<\/abbr>88 on the summit of Maunakea, followed by a ceremony at the Institute for Astronomy<\/a> (IfA<\/abbr>) facility at UH<\/abbr> Hilo. The UH<\/abbr>88 is the first IEEE<\/abbr> Milestone recognized on Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> Island and one of only a few statewide.<\/p>\n

Other IEEE<\/abbr> milestones in Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> include revolutionary wireless communication technology<\/a> ALOHAnet developed at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa nearly 50 years ago and the original electric lights at \u02bbIolani Palace.<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr>88 legacy<\/h2>\n
\"telescope\"
UH<\/abbr>88 with Robo-AO2 instrumentation mounted (Photo credit: C. Baranec)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Its location,13,796 feet above sea level, places it above much of Earth\u2019s atmosphere and water vapor, providing a near-complete view of the sky.<\/p>\n

The IEEE<\/abbr> Milestone recognizes decades of innovation that has helped shape modern astronomy. The UH<\/abbr>88\u2019s legacy can be seen in observatories and space missions around the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery astronomy facility is based on the things that we\u2019ve done in the past, the science that we\u2019ve learned and the technology we\u2019ve developed,\u201d Chun said. \u201cAt the 88 inch telescope, you see that we\u2019re part of that ecosystem and that\u2019s worldwide\u2014ground-based telescopes, space telescopes, we played a big role in all of those.\u201d<\/p>\n

The site remains a testbed for cutting-edge instruments such as next-gen infrared detectors and fully automated observing systems.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing named an IEEE<\/abbr> Milestone underscores the world-class excellence of UH<\/abbr>\u2019s astronomy program,\u201d said Doug Simons, director at IfA<\/abbr>. \u201cIt affirms that the innovation happening on Maunakea has global impact, from advancing how we explore the universe to training the next generation of astronomers right here in Hawai\u02bbi<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Simons
IfA<\/abbr> Director Doug Simons with the official proclamation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Official proclamation<\/h2>\n

Representatives from IEEE<\/abbr> and Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> state lawmakers attended the ceremony, and State Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye provided a proclamation honoring the special milestone.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a longtime supporter of the astronomy sector, including the higher educational science, technology and engineering programs in East Hawai\u02bbi<\/span>\u2019s UH<\/abbr> Campus, I thank the many years the University of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> at M\u0101noa dealt with transferring many policies and programs to our Hilo campus, which the Hilo community supported,\u201d said Inouye. \u201cI am pleased to congratulate the celebration of this milestone and truly appreciate the advancement of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span>\u2019s global leadership in science, innovation and technology.\u201d<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_masonry_media_grid css=”” grid_id=”vc_gid:1751327410582-8f62aac4-27d8-0″ include=”218135,218134,218133,218137,218136,199132″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The UH<\/abbr>88 telescope designated as an IEEE<\/abbr> Milestone, a significant honor spotlighting innovations that changed the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":121532,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[34,182,35,659,1421,14,9,947],"class_list":["post-217969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-astronomy","tag-engineering","tag-institute-for-astronomy","tag-maunakea","tag-maunakea-observatories","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","tag-uh-system","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t