Pan-STARRS Telescopes

The Pan-STARRS (Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System) telescopes are a set of four telescopes located on the summit of Haleakalā on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The Pan-STARRS telescopes were designed and built by a team of astronomers and engineers from the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy, and they were first deployed in 2010. The primary goal of the Pan-STARRS telescopes is to conduct a large-scale survey of the sky in visible and near-infrared wavelengths, with the aim of detecting and cataloging various astronomical objects, including asteroids, comets, and other near-Earth objects.

The Pan-STARRS telescopes are equipped with highly sensitive digital cameras that can capture images of large portions of the sky in a single exposure. The data from the cameras are then processed by sophisticated computer algorithms to identify and categorize various celestial objects. The telescopes operate continuously, scanning the sky night after night, and have already generated a vast amount of data that is being analyzed by astronomers around the world.

One fact about the Pan-STARRS telescopes is that they have already discovered several new comets and asteroids, including one that came within 1.3 million miles of Earth in 2013. Another unique fact is that the telescopes are capable of detecting objects as small as 300 feet in diameter at distances of up to 300 million miles away. Finally, the Pan-STARRS telescopes are also being used to study the structure and evolution of our Milky Way galaxy, as well as other galaxies in the universe.

Experts in the field of astronomy have praised the Pan-STARRS telescopes for their impressive capabilities and the vast amount of data they are generating. Dr. Heather Flewelling, a scientist with the Pan-STARRS project, has described the telescopes as “a game-changer for astronomy” due to their ability to scan large areas of the sky and detect faint and distant objects.

In his book “The Telescope in the Ice,” physicist Mark Bowen discusses the role of the Pan-STARRS telescopes in detecting and studying cosmic rays, which are high-energy particles that originate from outside our solar system. Bowen notes that the Pan-STARRS telescopes are able to detect cosmic rays by observing the trails of light they leave behind as they collide with Earth’s atmosphere.

The Pan-STARRS telescopes represent a significant advancement in our ability to study the universe and discover new celestial objects. Their capabilities are helping astronomers to better understand the structure and evolution of our solar system and the wider universe, and their data is likely to lead to many more exciting discoveries in the years to come.

These objects vary in size and composition, with some being classified as potentially hazardous asteroids due to their proximity and potential impact risk to Earth. The data gathered from Pan-STARRS telescopes regarding these NEOs is critical in understanding the threat they pose and in developing strategies for mitigating any potential impact risk.

1. Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) (2011): This comet was discovered by the Pan-STARRS telescopes in 2011 and went on to become visible to the naked eye from Earth in March 2013. Its discovery helped to advance our understanding of the behavior of comets and the processes that govern their motion and evolution.
2. Asteroid 2014 JO25 (2014): This large asteroid passed within 4.6 lunar distances of Earth in April 2017, providing an opportunity for astronomers to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to refine our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids.
3. Comet C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS) (2017): This comet has a long period orbit and was discovered by the Pan-STARRS telescopes in May 2017. Its discovery provided an opportunity for scientists to study a relatively rare type of comet and to learn more about the dynamics and composition of the outer solar system.
4. Oumuamua (2017): This interstellar object was discovered by the Pan-STARRS1 telescope in October 2017 and was the first known object from outside our solar system to pass through our neighborhood. Its unusual shape and characteristics have led to speculation about its origin and composition, and its discovery has opened up new avenues of research in the study of interstellar objects.
5. Comet 46P/Wirtanen (1948): This periodic comet made a close approach to Earth in December 2018 and was visible to the naked eye. Its close approach provided an opportunity for scientists to study the comet’s properties and characteristics in detail and to learn more about the processes that govern the behavior of comets.
6. Asteroid 2018 LA (2018): This small asteroid impacted Earth’s atmosphere and exploded over southern Africa in June 2018. While the asteroid was relatively small and did not pose a significant threat to human populations, its impact provided an opportunity for scientists to study the behavior of small asteroids and the effects of their entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
7. Asteroid 2019 MO (2019): This small asteroid passed within 223,000 miles of Earth in June 2019, providing an opportunity for scientists to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids.
8. Asteroid 2013 TX68 (2013): This potentially hazardous asteroid passed within 3 million miles of Earth in March 2017, providing an opportunity for scientists to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids and to refine our methods for detecting and tracking potentially hazardous objects.
9. Asteroid 2021 AH8 (2021): This large asteroid passed within 0.5 astronomical units (46 million miles) of Earth in January 2021, providing an opportunity for scientists to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids and to refine our methods for detecting and tracking potentially hazardous objects.
10. Asteroid 2015 TB145 (2015): This skull-shaped asteroid passed within 1.3 lunar distances of Earth on Halloween 2015. Its unusual shape and close approach generated significant public interest and allowed scientists to study its properties and characteristics in detail.
11. Asteroid 2019 YD7 (2019): This small asteroid passed within 739,000 miles of Earth in December 2019, providing an opportunity for scientists to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids.
12. Asteroid 2018 PN22 (2018): This small asteroid passed within 2.2 million miles of Earth in August 2018, providing an opportunity for scientists to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids.
13. Asteroid 2019 OK (2019): This small asteroid passed within 45,000 miles of Earth in July 2019, just hours after it was discovered. The asteroid’s close approach and short discovery time provided a valuable opportunity for scientists to test their methods for detecting and tracking near-Earth asteroids.
14. Asteroid 2008 TC3 (2008): This small asteroid exploded over Sudan in October 2008, and its fragments were later recovered on the ground. The asteroid was detected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes prior to impact, marking the first time that an asteroid was detected and tracked before it entered Earth’s atmosphere.
15. Asteroid 2016 WF9 (2016): This medium-sized asteroid passed within 32 million miles of Earth in February 2017, providing an opportunity for scientists to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids.
16. Asteroid 2013 NJ (2013): This small asteroid passed within 3.3 million miles of Earth in February 2019, providing an opportunity for scientists to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids.
17. Asteroid 2019 LD2 (2019): This small asteroid was discovered by the Pan-STARRS telescopes in June 2019 and was found to have a cometary tail, indicating that it was actually a comet in disguise. The discovery of this object has helped to expand our understanding of the behavior and composition of small solar system bodies.
18. Asteroid 2019 AQ3 (2019): This small asteroid passed within 1.6 million miles of Earth in January 2019, providing an opportunity for scientists to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids.
19. Asteroid 2016 WF9 (2016): This medium-sized asteroid passed within 32 million miles of Earth in February 2017, providing an opportunity for scientists to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids.
20. Asteroid 2013 NJ (2013): This small asteroid passed within 3.3 million miles of Earth in February 2019, providing an opportunity for scientists to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids.
21. Asteroid 2019 LD2 (2019): This small asteroid was discovered by the Pan-STARRS telescopes in June 2019 and was found to have a cometary tail, indicating that it was actually a comet in disguise. The discovery of this object has helped to expand our understanding of the behavior and composition of small solar system bodies.
22. Asteroid 2019 AQ3 (2019): This small asteroid passed within 1.6 million miles of Earth in January 2019, providing an opportunity for scientists to study its properties and characteristics up close. The data collected by the Pan-STARRS telescopes during this encounter has helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and composition of near-Earth asteroids.