Astronomy Consortium Chooses Haleakala as Site for the Advanced TechnologySolar Telescope (Forwarded)

Institute for Astronomy
University of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii

Contacts:

Dr.Rolf-Peter Kudritzki, Director
Institute for Astronomy
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
1-808-956-8566


Dr. Jeffrey Kuhn
Associate Director for Haleakala
Institute for Astronomy
University of Hawaii at Manoa
1-808-956-8968


Mrs. Karen Rehbock
Assistant to the Director
Institute for Astronomy
University of Hawaii at Manoa
1-808-956-6829


For Immediate Release: January 6, 2005

Astronomy Consortium Chooses Haleakala as Site for the Advanced Technology Solar
Telescope

Today, the world's largest instrument for studying the sun and its complex
magnetic field, the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) is one step
closer to reality, and to a location on Haleakala, Maui. The ATST is an
international project led by the U.S. National Solar Observatory (NSO), which is
operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), a
consortium of 36 universities. Today, the AURA Board of Directors endorsed the
recommendation of its ATST Science Working Group to make Haleakala the primary
candidate site for the ATST. The announcement caps a three-year effort that
began with 70 potential sites, both national and international, being
considered, and ended with Haleakala emerging as the one that best fulfills the
ATST science requirements.

The $161 million ATST has been described as the world's greatest advance in
ground-based solar telescope capabilities since Galileo. ATST can also be
described as a solar "magnetometer." Its unique design is optimized to allow
precise measurements of solar magnetic fields, particularly under circumstances
where they have been, thus far, invisible. This new capability should allow us
to understand and predict solar variability.

Few astrophysical research disciplines are directly relevant to life on Earth,
but understanding and predicting the magnetic fluctuations of the sun is one
that is. This variability touches Earth in several ways, principally through the
sun's changing brightness, which affects the terrestrial climate both on the
very long timescales that correspond to the rise and fall of civilizations and
in periods as short as a few years. Furthermore, much Earth-bound technology,
from electrical power distribution to cell phone communication, is directly
affected by the intense solar magnetic storms that scientists call flares and
coronal mass ejections. Dr. Jeff Kuhn, solar astronomer and Institute for
Astronomy associate director for Haleakala stated, "With the ATST, we will
finally have a tool that can measure the magnetism that we believe controls
solar fluctuations."

Dr. Rolf-Peter Kudritzki, director of the Institute for Astronomy at the
University of Hawaii, expressed his excitement about the site selection by
saying, "The ATST is an outstanding scientific project. It will provide deep
insight into the role that the sun plays in our lives. I am extremely happy that
we are now able to attract this project to Hawaii." He announced that "the ATST
project is moving to undertake a joint State/Federal Environmental Impact
Statement for a site on Haleakala." He noted that the ATST project is identified
as a potential new facility in the University of Hawaii, Institute for
Astronomy's Haleakala Observatory Long Range Development Plan.

University of Hawaii President Dr. David McClain commended the Institute for
Astronomy for its successful work and called the recommendation "a significant
step forward in the advancement of the University's research program. It also
shows the importance of the University for the development of technology
programs with broader educational and economic impact on all Hawaiian islands."

Dr. Peter Englert, chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, was
extremely pleased about the site decision. He said, "This is a beautiful example
of the growing success of UH Manoa as a research campus. We look forward to
working together with the National Solar Observatory for the advancement of
science, the improvement of our academic program and the benefit of the people
of Hawaii."

According to Dr. Stephen Keil, NSO director and principal investigator for the
ATST, "The ATST site selection and the ATST design represent the work of a large
segment of the U.S. and international solar communities. The major goals of
observing and understanding magnetic fields at their fundamental spatial and
temporal scales at all heights in the solar atmosphere are best fulfilled on
Haleakala. At 4 meters in diameter, the ATST will be the world's largest and
most capable solar telescope."

When asked about the possibility of having the ATST on Haleakala, Kahu Charles
Kauluwehi Maxwell Sr. stated, "In ancient times the Kahuna po`o (high priests)
knew the value of Haleakala as a place to view the planets and the stars, and as
a place for meditation and receiving spiritual wisdom. Haleakala is a sacred
place and must be treated with respect. It is of utmost importance that this
project, or any project on Haleakala, follow the Hawaiian Cultural Protocol set
forth for Kolekole Pu`u (top of Haleakala) in the IfA's Long Range Development
Plan; the Kanaka Maoli must be consulted in the earliest phases of any proposed
project, those who work at Kolekole must attend "Sense of Place" training, there
must be Cultural Monitoring during all phases, before, during and after
construction, and every effort must be taken to minimize the visual impact of
anything on Haleakala. Haleakala is a place of prayer; it is Ala hea ka la --
the path to the calling the sun."

ATST is a project of the solar physics research community, led by the NSO, AURA
(NSO's parent organization), and supported by the National Science Foundation.

Links to additional information are on line at:
http://atst.nso.edu
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu

IMAGE CAPTIONS:

[Image 1:
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/press...bservatory.jpg (7KB)]
The ATST Observatory Facility (August 2004). Source: NSO

[Image 2:
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/press...aWeb_small.jpg (32KB)]
Haleakala summit picture.