#Thirty meter telescope series

Tests on Maui's HaleakalДЃ were promising but the mountain was too low in the inversion layer and often covered by clouds. While he first began looking in Chile, he also made the decision to perform tests in the Hawaiian Islands. Main article: Opposition to the Mauna Kea Observatories Development of Mauna Kea observatories ДЄfter studying photos for NASA's Apollo program that contained greater detail than any ground based telescope, Gerard Kuiper began seeking an arid site for infrared studies. Paul Coleman, who in 2015 noted 'Hawaiians are just so tied to astronomy I cannot, in any stretch of the imagination, think that TMT is something that our ancestors wouldn't just jump on and embrace' In July 2019, 300 protestors gathered in support of the TMT project outside the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu. Notable native Hawaiian supporters include Peter Apo, sitting trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and leading University of Hawaii professor and astronomer the late Dr. The controversy has led to considerable division in the local community with residents choosing support or opposition. On October 30, 2018, the Court validated the new construction permit. The TMT corporation then removed all construction equipment and vehicles from Mauna Kea, and re-applied for a new permit, meant to respect the Supreme Court's ruling. The court ruled that due process was not followed.

The project was expected to be completed by 2024, nearly simultaneously with the 39-meter Extremely Large Telescope being built in Chile however, on December 2, 2015, the Supreme Court of Hawaii invalidated the TMT's building permits. While opposition against the observatories on Mauna Kea has been ongoing since the first telescope, built by the University of Hawaii, this protest may be the most vocal. Opposition to the project began shortly after the announcement of Mauna Kea as the chosen site out of 5 proposals.

Mauna Kea was announced as TMT's preferred site in 2009. The TMT, a $1.4 billion ground-based, large segmented mirror reflecting telescope grew from astronomers' prioritization in 2000 of a thirty-meter telescope to be built within the decade. Protests began locally within the state of Hawaii on Octobut went global within weeks of the Aparrest of 31 people who had blockaded the roadway to keep construction crews off the summit. Mauna Kea is the most sacred dormant volcano of Native Hawaiian religion and culture, and was known to natives as the home to WДЃkea, the sky god.

#Thirty meter telescope series

The Thirty Meter Telescope protests are a series of protests and demonstrations that began on the Island of Hawaii over the choosing of Mauna Kea for the site location of the Thirty Meter Telescope.