Authored By: ʻImiloa Astronomy Center

Featured Maunakea Observatory Discovery

Astronomers on Maunakea, who are part of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration has unveiled new, detailed images of the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy M87- known as M87*- revealing a dynamic environment with changing polarization patterns near the black hole. Additionally, the scientists found the first signatures of the extended jet emission near the jet base, which connects to the ring around M87*, in EHT data. These new observations are providing new insight into how matter and energy behave in the extreme environments surrounding black holes. The following Maunakea observatories that operate in the submillimeter wavelengths - James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and Smithsonian Submillimeter Array - are part of the EHT collaboration.

More information can be found at the following press release:

https://eventhorizontelescope.org/new-eht-images-reveal-unexpected-polarization-flips-at-m87

Special Events

Orionid Meteor Shower - October 21-22

From early October to early November, the night skies will be decorated with the Orionid meteor shower. This meteor shower will produce about 20 shooting stars an hour when it peaks on Oct. 20-21. 

The shooting stars radiate from near the Gemini and Orion constellations. The shooting stars from Orionid were left from the tail of Halley’s comet, which came through the inner solar system in 1986.

Evening Observing

In the early evening, stargazers will be able to find two of the navigational star families, established by the Polynesian Voyaging Society. These “super constellations” are important tools that are utilized by Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia. Setting in the west will be the “summer” star family of Mānaiakalani. This starline is made up of three main pieces: the Navigator’s Triangle, Pīmoe (a mischievous Ulua fish), and Kamakaunuiamāui, the fishhook of Māui. Rising in the East will be Kalupeakawelo, also known as “the Kite of Kawelo.”

Kalupeakawelo is set up to take on a sort of three-dimensional effect in the sky. To properly picture the kite in the sky, imagine that you are laying back and holding the strings that attach to ʻIwakeliʻi and Kamōʻī with one hand, and holding the strings that attach to Nālani and Kaikilani with the other hand. The square body of the kite, marked by Manokalanipō, Kākuhihewa, Piʻilani, and Keawe, is flying high up above your head.

Saturn (Makulu) will stand out amongst the southern kite strings of Kalupeakawelo. Through a telescope, observers can see the beautiful rings of Saturn that make the planet famous. 

Morning Observing

During October mornings, Jupiter (Kaʻāwela) will stand out near the center of the sky just before dawn. Behind Jupiter, will be the Milky Way and the navigational star family Kekāomakaliʻi, The Bailer of Makaliʻi.