Science > Physics > The observatories atop Mauna Kea didn't escape entirely unscathed
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Science > Physics |
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"Sam Wormley" |
| Date: |
17 Oct 2006 10:18:06 PM |
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The observatories atop Mauna Kea didn't escape entirely unscathed |
Quakes rattle Hawaii telescopes
The observatories atop Mauna Kea didn't escape entirely unscathed.
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4591
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| User: "Sam Wormley" |
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| Title: Re: The observatories atop Mauna Kea didn't escape entirely unscathed |
17 Oct 2006 10:21:28 PM |
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Sam Wormley wrote:
Quakes rattle Hawaii telescopes
The observatories atop Mauna Kea didn't escape entirely unscathed.
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4591
Keck Sees Past the Quake
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2006/1017/1
By Phil Berardelli
ScienceNOW Daily News
17 October 2006
Technicians at the W. M. Keck Observatory on the island of Hawaii are
in the process of restoring operations to the station's twin giant
telescopes, which were disrupted by the magnitude-6.7 earthquake and
aftershocks that hit the west coast of the island Sunday morning. The
earthquake was the largest in Hawaii in 20 years and caused power and
communication failures across the state but caused no deaths or serious
injuries.
Laura Kinoshita, the media representative for the facility, says the
twin 10-meter telescopes, located at the summit of Mauna Kea, were not
damaged by the temblor. Likewise, the observatory's computers, adaptive
optics, and overall structure were not harmed. But both instruments,
which weigh 272 metric tons each, did rock back and forth on their
mountings during the event, causing their restraining bolts to be
stressed and bent. The precision reference mounts on Keck I, which can
pinpoint where the telescope is being aimed, were damaged. Kinoshita
says the technicians are hoping to have the instrument back "on sky" by
later this week. The situation is slightly worse with Keck II, she
says, because it suffered some damage to the system that moves the
telescope on its tracks. All data being stored at the facility have
been backed up and are considered safe.
Kinoshita says the timing of the quake was fortunate in one respect.
The facility has been experiencing bad weather, so observing activities
would have been curtailed this week anyway.
As soon as the repairs are completed and both telescopes have resumed
operations, the observatory team will attempt to assess how to avoid
similar problems the next time around. "No one liked the idea of the
telescopes rocking on their mounts," says Kinoshita.
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| User: "Don Stockbauer" |
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| Title: Re: The observatories atop Mauna Kea didn't escape entirely unscathed |
18 Oct 2006 03:49:20 AM |
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Sam Wormley wrote:
Sam Wormley wrote:
Quakes rattle Hawaii telescopes
The observatories atop Mauna Kea didn't escape entirely unscathed.
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4591
Keck Sees Past the Quake
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2006/1017/1
By Phil Berardelli
ScienceNOW Daily News
17 October 2006
Technicians at the W. M. Keck Observatory on the island of Hawaii are
in the process of restoring operations to the station's twin giant
telescopes, which were disrupted by the magnitude-6.7 earthquake and
aftershocks that hit the west coast of the island Sunday morning. The
earthquake was the largest in Hawaii in 20 years and caused power and
communication failures across the state but caused no deaths or serious
injuries.
Laura Kinoshita, the media representative for the facility, says the
twin 10-meter telescopes, located at the summit of Mauna Kea, were not
damaged by the temblor. Likewise, the observatory's computers, adaptive
optics, and overall structure were not harmed. But both instruments,
which weigh 272 metric tons each, did rock back and forth on their
mountings during the event, causing their restraining bolts to be
stressed and bent. The precision reference mounts on Keck I, which can
pinpoint where the telescope is being aimed, were damaged. Kinoshita
says the technicians are hoping to have the instrument back "on sky" by
later this week. The situation is slightly worse with Keck II, she
says, because it suffered some damage to the system that moves the
telescope on its tracks. All data being stored at the facility have
been backed up and are considered safe.
Kinoshita says the timing of the quake was fortunate in one respect.
The facility has been experiencing bad weather, so observing activities
would have been curtailed this week anyway.
As soon as the repairs are completed and both telescopes have resumed
operations, the observatory team will attempt to assess how to avoid
similar problems the next time around. "No one liked the idea of the
telescopes rocking on their mounts," says Kinoshita.
Like my father always used to say, God rest his soul, it "could have
been worse."
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| User: "Sam Wormley" |
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| Title: Re: The observatories atop Mauna Kea didn't escape entirely unscathed |
18 Oct 2006 06:45:39 PM |
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Don Stockbauer wrote:
Sam Wormley wrote:
Sam Wormley wrote:
Quakes rattle Hawaii telescopes
The observatories atop Mauna Kea didn't escape entirely unscathed.
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4591
Keck Sees Past the Quake
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2006/1017/1
By Phil Berardelli
ScienceNOW Daily News
17 October 2006
Technicians at the W. M. Keck Observatory on the island of Hawaii are
in the process of restoring operations to the station's twin giant
telescopes, which were disrupted by the magnitude-6.7 earthquake and
aftershocks that hit the west coast of the island Sunday morning. The
earthquake was the largest in Hawaii in 20 years and caused power and
communication failures across the state but caused no deaths or serious
injuries.
Laura Kinoshita, the media representative for the facility, says the
twin 10-meter telescopes, located at the summit of Mauna Kea, were not
damaged by the temblor. Likewise, the observatory's computers, adaptive
optics, and overall structure were not harmed. But both instruments,
which weigh 272 metric tons each, did rock back and forth on their
mountings during the event, causing their restraining bolts to be
stressed and bent. The precision reference mounts on Keck I, which can
pinpoint where the telescope is being aimed, were damaged. Kinoshita
says the technicians are hoping to have the instrument back "on sky" by
later this week. The situation is slightly worse with Keck II, she
says, because it suffered some damage to the system that moves the
telescope on its tracks. All data being stored at the facility have
been backed up and are considered safe.
Kinoshita says the timing of the quake was fortunate in one respect.
The facility has been experiencing bad weather, so observing activities
would have been curtailed this week anyway.
As soon as the repairs are completed and both telescopes have resumed
operations, the observatory team will attempt to assess how to avoid
similar problems the next time around. "No one liked the idea of the
telescopes rocking on their mounts," says Kinoshita.
Like my father always used to say, God rest his soul, it "could have
been worse."
Kamuela (October 16th, 2006)
The W. M. Keck Observatory is recovering from a 6.7-magnitude
earthquake and a series of aftershocks that struck off the west coast
of Hawaii Sunday morning at 7:07 a.m. HST. The earthquake was the
largest to hit Hawaii in 20 years and caused power and communication
failures across the state. There were no injuries at W. M. Keck
Observatory and all personnel are safe.
UPDATE: OCT. 18, 2006 at 11:00 a.m.:
The astronomy lecture series will continue with Dr. J. Davy Kirkpatrick
this Thursday evening, Oct. 19th at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Kirkpatrick will
present, "Brown Dwarfs: Bridging the Gap Between Stars and Planets."
The Observatory has cancelled observing through Wednesday night and
Observatory personnel are in the process of bringing the facility into
a safe state. The telescopes and instruments will be returned to full
functionality as soon as possible.
As of Tuesday, the Observatory estimated it would take a few days to
return Keck I to operational status. It will take at least this long to
restore Keck II functionality and the status remains unchanged. There
is no damage to observatory computers or servers and all data has been
backed up and is safe. Power has been restored to all headquarter and
summit facilities and the headquarter facilities are open.
The primary mirrors of both Keck telescopes are intact and do not
appear damaged. However, some guiding and pointing systems have been
damaged and must be repaired before Observing can resume.
"We have made great progress today in repairing damaged systems and
verifying the health of other systems, and we're just delighted
with the work of our team," said Observatory Director Taft
Armandroff.
Scheduled observing teams are encouraged to contact Observing Support
Manager Bob Goodrich at (808) 881-3869 with questions about specific
instruments or travel to Hawaii.
The Observatory's Web site will remain a source of information and
updates. For more information, please call the Observatory's
Public Information Office at (808) 881-3827 or send an e-mail to:
newsletter@keck.hawaii.edu.
Media Contact:
Laura K. Kinoshita
W. M. Keck Observatory
65-1120 Mamalahoa Hwy.
Kamuela, HI 96743
(808) 885-7887
newsletter@keck.hawaii.edu
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