W. M. Keck Observatory

After 31 years at the Observatory, our director Rich Matsuda knows a thing or two about riding waves—on the ocean and in the office. He began his Keck journey as an engineer, tackling tough jobs in difficult environments. Jobs like reorganizing the cable wrap on Keck I, a seriously tangled mess. Imagine hauling heavy cables down a long hallway at 14,000 feet, light-headed and nauseated, battling altitude sickness as your confidence erodes. “I wondered if I made the right career move,” Rich laughs. He recalls overhearing a colleague say “This guy ain’t gonna last.” Spoiler alert: he did, and then some. Fast-forward three decades, and now he’s charting the Observatory’s course through the cosmos as Keck’s first Kama'aina (locally born) director. Along the way, he helped create the Operations and Infrastructure Department and took on complex roles as Chief of Operations and Assistant Director for External Relations, where he spearheaded the creation of a collaborative community outreach program. Through it all, he’s stayed focused on teamwork and solving tough problems behind the scenes. “Science is super cool,” he’ll tell you, “But it’s the people who really make it special.” Like surfing, working at an observatory, particularly atop Maunakea, is all about balance and resilience. “Up there, everything is ten times harder, and you run into challenges you never expected. It takes everything you’ve got—and then some.” Whether he’s catching waves or navigating complex issues, his passion for making connections, fostering community relationships and respecting the 'aina (land) keeps him going strong. Cheers to you, Rich. Here’s to 31 years of perseverance and leadership—and to riding the next wave of exploration. 🏄

📣 We're looking for a new team member to join our Observing Support department as a Staff Astronomer I. Are you world-class? Are you passionate about unraveling the mysteries of the universe? Join the astronomy all-stars that make the W. M. Keck Observatory the most productive telescopes on Earth! Successful applicants are natural problem solvers with observing experience, software skills, mechanical know-how, and stellar customer service. If you love science, the thrill of discovery and the satisfaction of helping make it happen, we want to hear from you! 🏔️ 🔭 🌃 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/gJsG5x8v

Today, we celebrate Chief Scientist John O'Meara's sixth year leading science operations at Keck Observatory. John’s connection to Keck runs deep (space)— he’s been using our telescopes since 1998, spending more than half his life observing with them. Reflecting on the journey, John notes the unexpected challenges of the past six years, including navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in leadership. “It’s been far more dynamic than I anticipated when I stepped into this role,” he shares. Despite a few asteroids, John’s journey has been filled with galactic milestones. He celebrated Dr. Andrea Ghez’s Nobel Prize win, witnessed the debut of cutting-edge instruments like the Keck Planet Finder (KPF) and the Keck Cosmic Reionization Mapper (KCRM), and spearheaded initiatives to improve data accessibility, including real-time data reduction systems. For John, the best part of his role is bringing brilliant minds together to advance Keck’s mission. “Connecting really smart people is what I love most,” he says. And every trip to the summit is the cherry on top. “It never gets old—it always feels like the first time. I’m like a kid in a candy store, full of excitement and awe every time I get to see the telescopes and check in with the talented crew that maintains operations,” he adds. When asked if he has a favorite telescope (Keck I and Keck II), John likens them to his children: “I love both telescopes equally!" Congratulations, John! 👏 🎉 🔭 🌃

Just WOW. An intense fireball captured by Subaru Telescope Naoj’s Live Cam above our telescope domes ☄️ Maunakea’s views never cease to amaze - so humbled by the awe and wonder of this special place ✨ Watch full video 👉 https://lnkd.in/gt8sUaNh

Phenomenon Friday 🎆 I look like a giant fireball and am made of hot gas - mostly hydrogen. I shine bright in the night sky due to the immense pressure in my core, which causes my hydrogen to fuse into helium for most of my life. This process, called nuclear fusion, generates huge amounts of energy and makes me shine. Like everything in nature, I go through a lifecycle: birth, life, and death. I can range in size from that of a small city to more than 1,700 times the radius of the Sun. What am I? A star. Here’s me eating a planet 👉 https://lnkd.in/gdaBc9Eu 📽️Artist’s animation of an exoplanet meeting its demise as it spiraled into its parent star. Called ZTF SLRN-2020, the star inflated to 4x its size and brightened by a factor of more than 100. Animation credit: R. Hurt/K. Miller (Caltech/IPAC) #phenomenonfriday #keckobservatory #maunakeaobservatories #hawaiiastronomy

We're #hiring! Do you have a knack for bringing diverse talents from different engineering and operations disciplines together to operate and improve complex systems? Do you embody the values of service and stewardship in the teams your lead? We are recruiting for a Chief Engineer who will oversee summit operations and multiple engineering disciplines, focusing efforts on what is most mission-critical, now and into the future. Does this sound like you or someone you know? https://lnkd.in/g9JQDaWi

Who am I? The answer to yesterday's #triviatuesday is: Kalupeakawelo Kalupeakawelo, meaning “The Kite of Kawelo,” is one of four star families Hawaiian wayfinders use to read the night sky when voyaging. The body of the kite consists of the Great Square - an asterism within the constellation Pegasus - with each corner representing four Hawaiian chiefs: Keawe of Hawaiʻi Island, Piʻilani of Maui, Kākuhihewa of Oʻahu, and Manokalanipo of Kauaʻi. The “kite” is tied to lines that extend from each corner of the Great Square, anchored by two stars in the north: 1) ʻIwakeliʻi (Cassiopeia constellation) and 2) Kamōʻī (Cepheus the King constellation) plus five stars in the south: 1) Piʻikea (Diphda star); 2) Kaikilani (Ankaa star); 3) Kalanikauleleaiwi (Achernar star); 4) Kūkaniloko (Fomalhaut star); and 5) Nālani (Alnair star). Kalupeakawelo is best visible during Fall and Winter in the Northern Hemisphere. To check it out, look east just after dark. 📸 The Great Square is depicted here in yellow. The stars that anchor the lines tied to the “kite” are not depicted - they extend beyond the photo, the green lines and arrows point in the direction of the anchors. Credit: Allthesky.com

Trivia: Who am I? 🤔 Can you name this celestial object?  🖊️ Share your best guess in the comments below 🔍 Clue: I ‘fly’ high in the night sky proudly representing four Hawaiian chiefs. I am best seen in the Northern Hemisphere during Fall and Winter. ✨ Stay tuned as we reveal the answer tomorrow 📸 Allthesky.com #triviatuesday #hawaiiastronomy

Astronomers have mapped, for the first time in 3D, the location and movement of filaments in the Pa 30 nebula—the aftermath of a supernova first recorded by Japanese and Chinese astronomers in 1181 and rediscovered in 2013 by amateur astronomer Dana Patchick. This cinematic artist rendering - inspired by the brilliant minds of our scientific community and the @Caltech-built Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI) - reveals the intricate, dandelion-like tendrils left behind from this ancient stellar explosion. 🤩 👀

Our staff are stellar! Check out this spooktacular image of our nighttime sky captured by Optical Technician Lauren Simmons. 🤩