KECK TELESCOPES
Location: Mauna Kea, Hawaii Type: Optical and infrared Diameter: Ten metres
8Although based on land, the twin telescopes at the Keck Observatory can see farther into space than the famous Hubble Space Telescope. This results in around a quarter of the observations made by US astronomers being achieved using Keck, and it’s therefore considered the most scientifically productive of all land telescopes.
By incorporating optical and infrared telescopes, the observatory produces clear images in the visible-light spectrum, but also allows astronomers to see deeper into space using the infrared imagery. Some of the incredible imagery uncovered at the Keck Observatory includes the birth of stars, which can produce a visible glow and also heat up surrounding gas, which can be detected using infrared detectors.
The observatory is positioned near the equator and at the top of the dormant Hawaiian volcano, Mauna Kea. There are 36 mirrors that make up each telescope, joined together to make one large panel. Concealed in insulated domes, the two telescopes operate at temperatures slightly below freezing to prevent heat from interfering with the infrared images.