Pan-STARRS - A Maui Marvel

Thomas Lowe, Pan-STARRS Observer

The PANoramic Survey Telescope And Rapid Response System is a world class facility on the summit of Haleakala that has made significant contributions to the field of astronomy. The Pan-STARRS project consists of two 2m-class wide field telescopes each equipped with giga-pixel CCD cameras. The observing strategy is optimized to search the sky for transient objects. PS1 has been collecting science data since 2010 and PS2 was commissioned in the spring of 2018. This talk will highlight some of its scientific achievements.

If you get prompted for a password, it’s May061918

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Tom at the Pan-STARRS Controls

Thomas Lowe is a Canadian professional astronomer, an award winning graphic designer, a gourmet cook and an aspiring musician who lives in Kula on the island of Maui. He received his undergraduate education at Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria and his post-graduate education at the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia. He has a wealth of experience in observational astronomy and has worked at some of the largest telescopes in the world. His research interests include symbiotic stars, exoplanets and near earth asteroids (NEOs). He is currently employed by the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy as an Observer with the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS). He is the co-discoverer of over 3000 NEOs, 300 SNe and 30 comets. He is renowned for his gregarious personality and wicked sense of humour.