W. M. Keck Observatory

astronomy · Hawaii · telescopes · space

Giant mirror power. Each telescope at Keck has a mirror 33 feet across, which is huge! When they were built in the 1990s, they were the biggest optical telescopes on Earth.

Mountain peak location. The observatory sits on Mauna Kea in Hawaii at 13,600 feet up. At that elevation, there is less air and dust in the way, so astronomers can see the stars much more clearly.

Twin telescopes working together. Keck has two identical telescopes next to each other. Scientists can sometimes use both at the same time to see even farther and more clearly into space.

Seeing distant galaxies. These powerful telescopes help astronomers study galaxies billions of light-years away and understand how the universe formed and changed over time.

Record breakers then and now. When completed in 1993 and 1996, Keck's telescopes were the largest in the world, and they remain among the four biggest optical telescopes today.