Summit Observatories
Tag: UKIRT
JAC is No More
With the start of March the observatory known as JAC is no more. The Joint Astronomy Center ran two telescopes, the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). Both telescopes have been transferred to new management and will continue to pursue science.
You can get more details on Tom Kerr’s blog A Pacific View.
I would also suggest you take a few minutes and enjoy some beautiful time-lapse to celebrate the achievements of the JAC…
Starlapse: The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope from William Montgomerie on Vimeo.
Postcard from the Summit – Sunset Crowd
JCMT and UKIRT Closing
Sad news that two of the telescopes atop Mauna Kea will be losing funding. Word comes from Tom on his blog Pacific View…
• extend operation of JCMT to end September 2014, to allow for completion of the agreed science programme for the SCUBA-2 instrument on the JCMT
• cease STFC support for the operation of UKIRT from end September 2013, a year after the completion of its current survey programme
These shutdowns have been threatened for some time. It is disheartening to learn that the worst outcome is now reality.
