Mauna Kea, the Sacred

[TomK]

Kelena:

quote:

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The University of Hilo needs to provide training for young astronomers, so that they can have a shot at working at the observatories.

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There's been some debate (not here) about the observatories on Mauna Kea not paying rent. In fact rent is paid by giving UH 15% of available observing time at the telescopes. Given the budgets involved here that's equivalent to a few million dollars each year and much of that time gets used to, guess what, train UH graduate students at the observatories! It also gives astronomers at UH relatively easy access to some of the most powerful telescopes on the planet and in turn their research gets passed down to both the astronomy and physics students - and of course the public (e.g., via 'Imiloa)

I absolutely agree with your statement but it is already happening. I suspect the TMT will only enhance this process plus hopefully provide positions for some of the locally trained astronomers (something that is tough to do right now given all the cutbacks).

Tom


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