United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, Infrared telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii County, US
The United Kingdom Infrared Telescope is an infrared telescope located on Mauna Kea in Hawaii County at 4,200 meters elevation. Its primary mirror spans 3.8 meters across and allows detailed observations of the sky in infrared wavelengths, which are invisible to the human eye.
The telescope was built between 1975 and 1978 and began operations in October 1979. It was initially named the Infrared Flux Collector before it received its current name.
The facility serves multiple international institutions through partnerships between the University of Hawaii, NASA, and various academic organizations across different countries point.
The telescope has been operated remotely from Hilo by astronomers since December 2010, focusing on wide-area sky surveys. The high mountain location provides excellent conditions for infrared observations with minimal air interference.
The instrument houses four specialized Cassegrain instruments that can operate simultaneously for different observations. This multi-tool setup allows astronomers to conduct several studies at the same time without delays.
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