Topics & Announcements

On August 24, 2024, due to the strong winds and rain caused by the strong hurricane Hone, some of the paint on the side of the lower exterior wall of the Subaru Telescope dome peeled off. As a result of the investigation, it was estimated that the total amount of the peeled paint was approximately 50 lb. Regarding the remaining paint on the exterior wall, it is firmly adhered to the base and we do not think there is any concern that it will peel off soon, but we will continue to closely monitor the situation.

The summit region of Maunakea, where the Subaru Telescope is constructed, has been designated a conservation district (The State of Hawaii Conservation District) by the State of Hawaii and is also a sacred place for local residents. Therefore, we take this situation very seriously and are conducting a detailed investigation of the material of the paint, verifying the range of paint scattering with numerical simulations, and investigating the impact on the surrounding environment.

We will report the progress and results of the future investigation on this website appropriately. We ask for your understanding and cooperation.