Mauna Kea CFHT

A panorama of the Canada France Hawaii Telescope near the summit of Mauna Kea Hawai’i.

Taken during sunset, Haleakala is partially visible in the distance on the island of Maui. The full-sized print has considerably more detail than the website image displays.

The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) is a significant astronomical observatory located near the summit of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii. This joint venture, operated by the National Research Council of Canada, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of France, and the University of Hawaii, serves as a pivotal research facility for astronomers and scientists worldwide.

The CFHT boasts a powerful 3.6-meter aperture telescope equipped with advanced imaging and spectroscopic capabilities, enabling astronomers to conduct cutting-edge research on various astronomical phenomena, including exoplanets, distant galaxies, and cosmological studies.

Since its inauguration in 1979, the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope has played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the universe, contributing to significant discoveries and breakthroughs in the field of astrophysics.

Its strategic location atop Mauna Kea, renowned for its favourable observing conditions and minimal light pollution, further enhances the CFHT’s capacity to conduct high-precision observations and long-term sky surveys.