Caltech Submillimeter Observatory

Caltech Submillimeter Observatory is a radio telescope with a 10.4-meter mirror that operated on Mauna Kea in Hawaii. The instrument focused on detecting wavelengths in the submillimeter range to study distant galaxies and other celestial objects.

Astronomer Robert Leighton proposed the telescope to the National Science Foundation in 1973, and first observations took place in 1986. The facility operated for decades before being dismantled in 2024.

The removal of the observatory in 2024 marked a shift in the management of astronomical facilities on Mauna Kea, considering local environmental preservation.

The telescope operated at high elevation on a mountain, which required specialized conditions for working with radio wavelengths. Its components were designed and tested at the California Institute of Technology before being installed at the site.

After being dismantled, the telescope components were relocated to Chile, where they will be reassembled as the Leighton Chajnantor Telescope. New observations are expected to begin in early 2027.

Operator: California Institute of Technology

GPS coordinates: 19.82253,-155.47557

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:42