The Subaru Telescope is located at the summit of Maunakea, a dormant volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. At 4,140 meters (13,580 feet) above sea level, the volcano’s peak often juts above the clouds. The site is also far from any city lights that can brighten the night sky and make it hard to see the stars. This clear view makes Maunakea one of the best stargazing spots on Earth.
The telescope is part of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. It’s equipped with several powerful cameras that allow astronomers like Yuko Kakazu to study and capture images of distant objects in space. Kakazu uses the Subaru Telescope to search for newborn galaxies and learn how these huge collections of stars, planets, gas, and dust change over time.
When Kakazu isn’t scanning the skies, she serves as the Subaru Telescope’s outreach specialist. It’s her job to educate the public about the research happening at the observatory. Science World spoke with Kakazu about what it’s like to explore the mysteries of space—and share astronomical discoveries with others.