Keck Observatory

astronomical observatory located in Hawaii
(Redirected from W. M. Keck Observatory)

The W. M. Keck Observatory is a pair of two large, ground-based telescopes located at Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Sitting four km (more than two miles) above sea level, the paired telescopes are used to examine light from distant stars in great detail. The primary mirrors of each of the two telescopes are 10 meters (33 feet) across, making them slightly smaller than the Gran Telescopio Canarias primary mirrors.

W. M. Keck Observatory
The Keck observatory domes atop Mauna Kea
Alternative namesKeck telescope Edit this at Wikidata
Part ofMauna Kea Observatories Edit this on Wikidata
Location(s)Hawaii
Coordinates19°49′35″N 155°28′28″W / 19.8263°N 155.47441°W / 19.8263; -155.47441 Edit this at Wikidata
Altitude4,145 m (13,599 ft) Edit this at Wikidata
First light24 November 1993, 23 October 1996 Edit this on Wikidata
Telescope styleastronomical observatory
reflecting telescope Edit this on Wikidata
Number of telescopesEdit this on Wikidata
Diameter10 m (32 ft 10 in) Edit this at Wikidata
Angular resolution0.04 arcsecond, 0.4 arcsecond Edit this on Wikidata
Collecting area76 m2 (820 sq ft) Edit this at Wikidata
Focal length17.5 m (57 ft 5 in) Edit this at Wikidata
Enclosurespherical dome Edit this on Wikidata
Websitekeckobservatory.org Edit this at Wikidata
Keck Observatory is located in Hawaii
Keck Observatory
Location of Keck Observatory

However, all of the light collected by the Keck Observatory primary mirrors (75.76m2) is sent to the secondary mirror and the instruments, compared to GTC's primary mirror, which has an effective light-collection area of 73.4m2, or 25.4 square feet less than each of the Keck Observatory primary mirrors. Because of this fundamental difference in design, Keck Observatory's telescopes arguably remain the largest steerable, optical/infrared telescopes on Earth.

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