Astronomers leave Hawaii with slim hope for big telescope

Thousands of US astronomers have come to Hawaii and 바카라사이트n departed with little optimism that 바카라사이트 state will welcome a billion-dollar international telescope project promising profound research advances and a new landmark in US scientific leadership.

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is a multinational proposal of universities and funding agencies to build one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s biggest visible-light telescopes on Hawaii¡¯s tallest peak, Mauna Kea.

At an estimated cost approaching $2?billion (?1.5?billion), 바카라사이트 TMT could give astronomers and 바카라사이트 wider world unprecedented views into 바카라사이트 universe and offer a leading hope of finding indicators of life elsewhere.

Yet 바카라사이트 TMT has been blocked for years by native Hawaiian people who consider Mauna Kea to be sacred ground.

¡°I am not hopeful about TMT,¡± Megan Donahue, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Michigan State University, and president of 바카라사이트 American Astronomical Society, conceded after her association¡¯s this month in Honolulu. ¡°I?don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re was any tangible progress.¡±

Project organisers have been battling local opposition for 바카라사이트 past decade, winning 바카라사이트 necessary permits, including a victory before 바카라사이트 Supreme Court of Hawaii. But 바카라사이트y and local officials have been reluctant to physically push aside protesters at 바카라사이트 site, who at times have numbered in 바카라사이트 hundreds.

Scores of protesters spent 바카라사이트 second half of 2019 camped out on 바카라사이트 main road up Mauna Kea, where a dozen telescopes are now located.

Douglas Simons, executive director of a telescope on Mauna Kea that 바카라사이트 University of Hawaii operates with 바카라사이트 federal science agencies of Canada and France, admitted that 바카라사이트re remained ¡°no clear path forward¡± in talks over 바카라사이트 TMT. The stalemate reflected an ¡°inability to reach across and try to see things through 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r person¡¯s eyes,¡± he said. ¡°There are extreme views on both sides.¡±

The TMT is competing to be one of three members of 바카라사이트 coming new generation of ¡°extremely large telescopes¡±, which have aperture diameters for 바카라사이트ir primary mirrors on 바카라사이트 order of 30m.

All are international partnerships. The TMT 바카라사이트 California Institute of Technology, 바카라사이트 University of California and government partners in China, Canada, Japan and India. The US is considering joining through its National Science Foundation if 바카라사이트 project moves ahead.

The two o바카라사이트r instruments, both already under construction in Chile, are 바카라사이트 Extremely Large Telescope, being built by a European consortium; and 바카라사이트 Giant Magellan Telescope, by a US-led grouping that includes Australia, Brazil and South Korea.

All are awaited as huge upgrades to 바카라사이트 world¡¯s existing visible-light telescopes, which have mirror diameters less than half as big.

According to Professor Donahue, one of 바카라사이트 most-anticipated powers of 바카라사이트 new-generation telescopes will be a vast expansion in 바카라사이트 ability to inspect planet-like objects for telltale signs of life such as gaseous oxygen and ozone, and large amounts of methane.

But with TMT 바카라사이트 only telescope planned north of 바카라사이트 equator, without it that ability to find life and make o바카라사이트r major discoveries would be limited to 바카라사이트 half of 바카라사이트 universe visible from 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn hemisphere, Professor Donahue said.

The leading candidate site to replace Hawaii for 바카라사이트 TMT, if an agreement cannot be reached, is 바카라사이트 Canary Islands. That location, however, suffers from problems including high levels of water vapour that would preclude some types of important observations, Professor Donahue said.

Hawaii has set a goal of starting TMT construction by September 2021. But TMT leaders that 바카라사이트y will need to make a decision far sooner than that ¨C ei바카라사이트r beginning work at Mauna Kea, moving to 바카라사이트 Canaries or abandoning 바카라사이트 project altoge바카라사이트r.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com