Astronomy

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Astronomy is rich in history as man has tried to explain his universe over the years. Astronomers combine the basic sciences (physics, chemistry, optics, etc.) with computers and complex technology in order to scan and to explain the heavens and the world in which we live. UH Hilo’s proximity to some of the most advanced astronomy facilities in the world provides opportunities for undergraduate students that are rarely experienced. The UH Hilo academic astronomy program utilizes the astronomy infrastructure of Mauna Kea and the University Park of Science and Technology to provide students with high levels of knowledge of astronomy and of training in modern methods of observational astronomy.

The B.S. degree program provides the training needed for students seeking careers in astronomy, both as professional research astronomers and as observatory technical staff members. In most universities, students are able to study astronomy only at the graduate level. The Bachelor of Science in Astronomy at UH Hilo is the first such undergraduate university program within the State of Hawai‘i. It has the principal aim of providing training and instruction at the undergraduate level for students seeking careers in astronomy and related fields, but the program is rich in opportunities for students with interests in other areas who are also interested in astronomy.

To accomplish this, the program incorporates the following elements:

  1. Emphasis on training in observational astronomy, thus building on the resource represented by the astronomical observatories atop Mauna Kea
  2. A full array of courses which provide the theoretical and conceptual background for understanding astronomy
  3. A strong component of computer assisted computation and analysis
  4. Flexibility to allow students to prepare adequately for a wide variety of career choices, such as: entrance to astronomy graduate school, training for technical careers in astronomy observatory support roles, preparation for careers in related fields such as planetary geosciences or remote sensing, and preparation of teachers, who wish to incorporate astronomy into the public school curriculum

The Department offers a range of astronomy courses suitable for all levels of interest and mathematical preparation. Students in other disciplines who have always wondered about the universe are served by an introductory, non-mathematical course. Students planning a more detailed study of the subject will wish to enroll in a year-long astronomy sequence suitable for astronomy and physics majors. The astronomy program also provides the astronomy components of the Natural Sciences degree and General Education programs, for the enrichment of students in a field of major importance to the State of Hawai‘i.

Degree Requirements

See degree requirements for a detailed listing of the Astronomy B.S. requirements.

Astronomy Web Site

Visit the Astronomy web site at http://phys.uhh.hawaii.edu/.

Goals for Student Learning in the Major

  1. A basic knowledge of all major fields of modern astronomy, and of understanding of the relations between astronomy and other areas of science and knowledge
  2. Advanced training in all aspects of modern observational astronomy and related research methods
  3. Acquisition of a deep understanding of the physical principles underlying modern astronomy
  4. Development of basic skills in computational and data analysis techniques of current importance in research astronomy and observatory operations
  5. Acquisition of basic scientific reasoning, critical thinking, and communications skills

Special Aspects of the Astronomy Program

The Department will be housed in a new Science and Technology Building which is in the final stages of design. Construction will begin in early 2007. Modern offices, classrooms, introductory
and advanced undergraduate labs, and faculty research facilities will all provide students with the most modern facilities possible.

With the assistance of a grant from the National Science Foundation, the Department is currently developing a 0.9-meter telescope that will be sited on Mauna Kea among some of the largest and most powerful instruments in the world. When completed within the next year, this telescope will provide students with the opportunity to pursue research-grade projects under the supervision of Department faculty.

Under a grant from the National Science Foundation Tribal Colleges and Universities Program, the Department participates in the development of courses and learning opportunities for students of Hawaiian ethnicity.

Astronomy majors at UH Hilo get real hands-on experience by participating in research projects with faculty members and observatory staff. Some of these projects make use of telescopes on Mauna Kea, the Hubble Space Telescope, and other observatories. UH Hilo astronomy students also have access to the University’s own 24-inch telescope on Mauna Kea which is equipped with electronic detectors for imaging and spectroscopy. In addition, advanced students have the opportunity of internships at the various observatories with headquarters on campus.

Students benefit from the Department’s international collaborations. Department faculty and student Interns are extensively involved in the All-sky High Resolution Air shower (Ashra) detector program which studies cosmic radiation by observing Nitrogen fluorescence and cherenkov radiation. The Department is a partner, along with UH Manoa Institute for Astronomy, Maui High Performance Computer Center, MIT Lincoln Laboratories, and Science Applications International Corporation in developing the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (PanSTARRS) asteroid detection system. Projects like these provide UH Hilo students with unique opportunities to become involved in major efforts at the boundaries of science.

In addition, the Observatory Internship program, coordinated with institutions based in the University Park of Science and Technology, offers students a unique opportunity to gain practical or research experience at astronomical observatories atop Mauna Kea prior to obtaining their degree.

The Space Grant Fellowship Program offers competitive fellowships to students of exceptional promise, usually during their senior year. The fellowships provide a full tuition waiver and
$1,000/semester stipend. Space Grant Fellows conduct a proposed research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor and participate in University-wide Space Grant College symposia. Funding for travel to meetings is available from this program.

Astronomy Faculty and Staff