Are We Alone for 09/28/09 - Aloha Astronomy

Are We Alone - Aloha Astronomy

From Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the view of the cosmos is spectacular. Giant black holes, distant galaxies, and extrasolar planets have all been uncovered by the massive telescopes that perch on this volcanic cone.

Join the astronomers who use the Keck Telescopes to peer at objects so far away, their light started out before Earth was born.

Also discover how the new Thirty Meter Telescope will dwarf even the massive glass eyes now in place, and why some of the world’s most important astronomical discoveries are being made in the Aloha State.

Plus, why the building of telescopes on the volcano is controversial to some native Hawaiians.

Guests:

• Charles Blue – Science writer, Thirty Meter Telescope Project
• Richard Ellis – Astronomer, California Institute of Technology
  
• Koa Rice – Hawaiian culture consultant
• Julian Christou – Adaptive optics scientist, Gemini North Telescope
• Ashley Yeager – Outreach manager, Keck Telescope
• Taft Armandroff – Director of the W. M. Keck Telescope

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.