General Info

The Institute for Astronomy is one of the world's leading astronomical research centers. The institute conducts research related to galaxies, cosmology, stars, planets and the sun. Its faculty and staff are also involved in astronomy education and the development and management of the Haleakala and Mauna Kea observatories. Founded in 1967, the Institute for Astronomy is one of the 11 research institutes of the University of Hawaii. The institute has a staff of more than 200 employees. Its astronomers use giant telescopes atop Mauna Kea and Haleakala observatories to collect faint visible light and infrared and submillimeter radiations from distant objects. In addition, they use and support space observatories and equipment, such as the Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra, to make observations that cannot be made from the ground. The Institute for Astronomy is located in Hilo, Hawaii.