World's Largest Astronomical Observatories Now Accessible Over Internet2 Networks

Hilo, April 18, 2000 - A new high-performance Internet connection announced today will transform the ability of astronomers to accessworld-leading telescopes located on the peak of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawai`i.

The University of Hawai`i and the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), with support from the National ScienceFoundation, have connected eleven of the world's leading astronomical observatories to Internet2 networks via the Mauna Kea ObservatoriesCommunication Network (MKOCN). With a capacity of 45 million bits per second, the new link will dramatically expand the capacity ofastronomers around the world to remotely use telescopes located on the Hawai`i mountaintop. The connection, which is nearly one thousand timesfaster than a typical modem, expands access to telescopes situated on Mauna Kea in a variety of ways.

Dr. Frederic H. Chaffee, Director of the Keck Observatory, noted that "this new high-speed link will bring us all closer to our user communitieson the mainland. In certain applications it will be possible for astronomers with access to Internet2 networks to 'observe' with the Keck telescopesfrom authorized mainland sites. In addition, we can use the link to participate in technical collaborations via videoconferencing without ever leavingour headquarters in Waimea. The potential of the new high-speed connection is enormous."

Astronomers around the world are also now able to connect in real time to the Gemini North control center in the University of Hawai`i at HiloResearch Park. According to Gemini Operations Manager, Dr. Jim Kennedy, "The new link will be crucial in coordinating advancedcommunications and scientific activities when our high-performance connection is completed to the Gemini South facility in Chile." The Geminitelescopes in Hawai`i and Chile are part of a multi-national effort to build twin 8.1 meter astronomical telescopes.

Additionally, home country access to international observatories on Mauna Kea, such as the new Japanese Subaru telescope, will dramaticallyimprove through Internet2's extensive set of international relationships and connections.

A new set of collaborations was crucial to establishing this connection. The University of Hawai`i and Gemini agreed on a joint technical plan,which received financial support from the National Science Foundation and network connectivity from the Defense Research and EngineeringNetwork.

"This network connection is a result of a partnership that shows what is possible when you combine resources to solve common problems," saidDr. David Lassner, director of the University of Hawai`i's Information Technology Services. "This would have been prohibitively expensive if wetried to work independently or without the help of several federal agencies."

There are educational benefits to the new link as well. The high-performance connection will allow the observatories to share more of theirfindings with the public through techniques such as virtual observatory tours and live video from Mauna Kea to museums, planetaria andclassrooms world-wide. The University of Hawai`i at Hilo will be developing a new Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center in its ResearchPark, which will utilize the high-performance connections to the observatories along with a planetarium, videoconferencing and instructionalfacilities.

The new connection was supported by a $340,000 High Performance Connections grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to theUniversity of Hawai`i Information Technology Services and a $600,000 NSF grant to the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy(AURA) to connect Gemini and the other Mauna Kea Observatories. By cooperating to leverage both grants, the University of Hawai`i andAURA are providing connections from the Mauna Kea summit to the University of Hawai`i at Hilo Research Park and then on to the Hawai`iGigaPoP. The Hawai`i GigaPoP is a new regional high-performance network aggregation point at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, located inHonolulu on the island of Oahu. The University of Hawai`i's Institute for Astronomy will provide Hilo-based operational support for theMKOCN connections and services.

A key to Hawai`i's high performance connection to Abilene, an Internet2 backbone network, is the US Department of Defense Research andEngineering Network (DREN). The Hawai`i GigaPoP is able to use DREN's 45 million bit per second link between Hawai`i and California - anin-kind service valued at more than $1.5 million per year - through a special agreement among the University of Hawai`i, DREN and NSF.

About Internet2: Internet2 is developing and deploying advanced network applications and technologies for research and higher education,accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet. Internet2 recreates the partnership of academia, industry and government that helped fostertoday's Internet in its infancy.

For more information about Internet2, see: http://www.internet2.edu/

About Gemini and AURA: The Gemini 8-meter Observatory Project is an international partnership that receives major funding from the NationalScience Foundation (NSF) and includes United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Chile, Brazil and Argentina. The NSF acts as executive agency forthe international Gemini partnership.

For more information, see: http://www.gemini.edu

For more information about the Mauna Kea Observatories and the MKOCN, see: http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/mko

For more information about Internet2 at the University of Hawaii, see: http://www.hawaii.edu/internet2

For more information about Abilene, see: http://www.internet2.edu/abilene/