TMT International Observatory LLC

We are incredibly proud of our exceptional ʻAle Lau Loa participants! Through this youth ambassador program, eight Hawaiʻi Island high school students recently visited the Penticton Indian Band (PIB) of British Columbia, Canada, as part of a cultural exchange. The program’s core focus is on building lasting relationships between indigenous youth through meaningful cultural exchanges. The Hawaiʻi ambassadors had the opportunity to meet with PIB Elders, who shared powerful origin stories and the lessons embedded within them. “We are proud to support the ʻAle Lau Loa program, as it exemplifies the power of cultural exchange in nurturing the next generation of global leaders," said Yuko Kakazu, Education and Outreach Manager for TMT. "Through these hands-on experiences, our youth are learning to appreciate the interconnectedness of our world and the importance of collaboration.” Mahalo to Big Island Now for covering their achievements!

💫 Get ready to dive into the cosmos like never before! The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) International Observatory is thrilled to reveal the 2024 release of the Detailed Science Case (DSC) — an exclusive guide to the mind-blowing discoveries that await us with TMT. A team of over 200 scientists around the globe contributed to this comprehensive vision, blending unique perspectives and expertise to create a blueprint for future exploration of the universe. From hunting for signs of life on exoplanets🪐, to cracking the code of dark matter and dark energy, and understanding how supermassive black holes shape galaxies 🌌, the DSC lays out the bold science questions that will drive TMT’s journey into the unknown. Ready to be amazed? Check out the 2024 TMT Detailed Science Case on our website at: https://lnkd.in/gmNdZKcW, and while you're there, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter! The cosmos awaits! ✨ #astronomy #science

Request for Proposal: The Metrology and Polishing of TMT’s Secondary Mirror Proposal Submission Date and Time: December 13, 2024; 5pm Pacific The TMT International Observatory LLC (“TIO”) is requesting proposals for the metrology, polishing, and delivery of the TMT Secondary Mirror (the “Full M2POL Program”). The full M2POL Program is comprised of the metrology design phase (“Metrology Design Phase”) and an option for the fabrication phase (“Fab Phase”). The Metrology Design Phase shall govern the M2 metrology design. The Fab Phase governs the M2 polishing design, the generation of documentation for performing M2 Production, the fabrication of all M2 Production tooling, performance of M2 Production (which includes but is not limited to M2 polishing and metrology), and the delivery of the Polished M2 to TIO. TIO requests that any organizations interested in submitting a proposal for the Full M2POL Program notify TIO of its interest via email (email addresses provided below). Once notified, TIO shall provide qualified Respondents with the RFP documents via email. The RFP, its exhibits and any referenced documentation are subject to change. The information in the RFP is provided for the sole purpose of enabling Respondents to respond to this RFP. Notifying TIO of your organization’s interest is necessary to ensure your team receives all updates and information regarding this RFP. All updates, clarifications or modifications to this RFP will be communicated via email to all qualified Respondents. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the specifications and instructions provided in the latest RFP documents. Please direct all RFP questions to Pratheep Eamranond (pratheep@tmt.org) and Christina Wong (cwong@tmt.org). TIO requests that all RFP questions be submitted by November 8, 2024 – 5PM Pacific Time. Questions submitted after November 8, 2024 may not receive a response. While TIO shall take reasonable measures to keep the source of RFP communications confidential, TIO reserves the right to disclose the general content of its communications with Respondents to all other Respondents to ensure fairness and the distribution of useful information. We thank you for your interest in the TMT Project and hope you will participate in our RFP. For more information, see: https://lnkd.in/gqyEq4jk

✨ We’re excited to announce that we have reached a major milestone in the development of the Alignment and Phasing System (APS)! After a successful Preliminary Design Review (PDR), the APS team is now advancing into the Final Design phase! 🎉 The APS plays a crucial role in making sure the telescope delivers crystal-clear views of the universe by aligning and adjusting key optics. The review panel highlighted the exceptional optical and mechanical design, and it was clear throughout the review how much of the very specialized knowledge acquired during the alignment and phasing experiences at W.M. Keck Observatory has carried over to TIO. A big thank you to our team and reviewers! Onward to Final Design! 🚀 Read more about the APS Optical Bench and Instrument Control Software PDR here: https://lnkd.in/gYqvJSVa #telescopes #astronomy #science #milestone #teamwork Image 1: The APS Opto-Mechanical Bench Design Image 2: The design team, reviewers, and observers attending from the TIO Pasadena Office, September 12, 2024. Image 3: More review participants attending over Zoom from Pasadena and remote locations.

✨The TMT Primary Mirror Control System (M1CS) team has just cleared a major milestone by passing their Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the Segment Controller & Cabling and Embedded Software! 👏 These components are essential for keeping the 492 segments of TMT's primary mirror working together as one extremely large 30-meter mirror. We're excited to keep moving forward as we head into the next phase of designing the Primary Mirror Control System! ✨ Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gbS75-5S *This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. 2331108. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.*

Yuko Kakazu, a member of our Hilo team, recently helped welcome students visiting from Nago City in Okinawa, Japan. At ʻImiloa, Yuko, who is from Okinawa, assisted as a translator and shared her own personal journey into astronomy. Additionally, they discussed Maunakea astronomy and the integration of Hawaiian culture and language. Of course, the students learned how astronomers make rainbows to analyze light from distant stars! Yuko was also able to reconnect with teachers from Okinawa who last year hosted students from Hawaiʻi Island through the ʻAle Lau Loa Global Youth Ambassador Program, a student exchange initiative co-created by the County of Hawaiʻi and TMT.

🎉 We’re thrilled to celebrate the achievement of our incredible teammate and System Scientist, Dr. Warren Skidmore, who received the 2024 Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent's Award! 🏆 Warren embodies TMT’s commitment to community-based astronomy through his dedication to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate in and benefit from STEM education. His contributions will help pave the way for a brighter future for the next generation. Congratulations, Warren! 🌟 See the full video here: https://lnkd.in/gadWbQFz

We had a stellar ✨ time last weekend at the Tanabata Festival in Hilo! Our Hilo-based team enjoyed meeting some young aspiring astronomers and sharing our spectroscopy glasses 🌈 and other fun activities with families. We also want to congratulate Subaru Telescope and Gemini Observatory for 25 years of discovery 👏 #astronomy #science #hilo #community

⭐ The TIO Secondary Mirror Support System and Positioner Assembly (M2SSP) team successfully completed their Preliminary Design Review (PDR) held at the offices of the M2SSP supplier, AMOS, in Belgium from July 15–17, 2024. 👏 The PDR presentations led by AMOS covered the M2SSP opto-mechanical design, software and controls, mechanical interfaces and handling plans, compliance and verification, and continued development plans including integration and site assembly. The review panel was highly impressed with the design and materials presented. Both AMOS and TIO are excited to move forward into the final design phase which will commence today, August 15, 2024! ✨ For more information, see: https://lnkd.in/gsEWGfN2 *This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. 2331108. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.* 💫💫💫 Image 1: View of the telescope structure with its primary, secondary, and tertiary mirrors through the enclosure opening. The secondary mirror is seen in the reflection of the primary mirror. Image 2: M2SSP PDR participants at AMOS in Belgium and remote Image 3: M2SSP preliminary design - the secondary mirror (M2M) will be mounted in a steel mirror cell (M2CA) that contains the axial and lateral supports for the mirror. An internal interface (AMOS scope) exists between the M2CA and the hexapod M2 positioner (M2POS). The M2POS interfaces with the Telescope Structure. (Image credit: AMOS)

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