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Institute for Astronomy

University of Hawaiʻi

Latest News & Updates

UH eclipse research finds turbulent times in the Sun’s corona

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi have uncovered new clues about how energy moves through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, using one of nature’s rarest events as their window: total solar eclipses.

Fei Dai Named 2026 Sloan Fellow

The University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa’s Institute for Astronomy (IfA) is celebrating national recognition for a faculty member whose research is helping answer one of humanity’s biggest questions: How do planetary systems form, and could worlds like Earth be common in...

Applications for summer 2026 REU positions are open!

Are you an undergraduate looking for a paid summer astronomy research internship? Check out our Research Experiences for Undergraduates program! Applications are open now, until Jan. 31, 2026. Program dates are June 6 - August 14, 2024, and include a stipend, paid...

UH scientists help unlock the Sun’s magnetic secrets with AI

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) are helping reshape how scientists study the Sun. The UH-led team has developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can map the Sun’s magnetic field in three dimensions with unprecedented...

UH debuts advanced robotic optics on Maunakea

A new chapter in automated astronomy has begun on Maunakea. The University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) has launched initial science operations for Robo-AO-2, a robotic laser adaptive optics system now operating at the UH 2.2-meter telescope.

UH astronomers decode a star’s secret past

Astronomers from the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) have uncovered the turbulent past of a distant red giant by listening to its celestial “song.”

What we do

Research

Our Astronomers study everything from the Sun to the structure of the Universe, using the best observing sites in the world

Develop

We create cutting-edge instrumentation and technology, and innovative surveys to study the ever-changing night sky

Educate

Our world-class degree programs include a PhD in Astronomy, an undergraduate BA in Astronomy, and a BS in Astrophysics

Engage

Our extensive public outreach program brings astronomy to our community, and our news stories highlight the latest discoveries

Our Vision

To be the premier institution for astronomy research and education, locally, nationally, and internationally, that is respectful of the local culture.

Our Mission

The University of Hawaiʻi is located in the most diverse community and environment in the world. We are a globally recognized center of learning and research, with a kuleana to serve the people and places of Hawaiʻi and our neighbors in the Pacific. The IfA’s mission is to advance scientific understanding of the origin and nature of the universe, by conducting high-impact research, developing new technologies to observe the cosmos, defending the planet from potentially hazardous asteroids, and sharing knowledge of astronomy through education and outreach, in particular engaging with the Native Hawaiian community.