images courtesy Office of Mauna Kea Management

(BIVN) – Mark Chun, an astronomer with the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, will be giving a talk at the March 14 Maunakea Speaker Series at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center.

Chun, who in January joined the visiting Bill and Hillary Clinton on the mountain for some stargazing, will talk about the qualities of Mauna Kea that make it the best site in the world for ground-based astronomy.

Chun spoke up for astronomy on the mountain during the tense UH board of regents hearings in 2015.

According to a media release from the Office of Mauna Kea Management, Chun’s upcoming talk will include:

• What site qualities are desirable for ground-based astronomy
• How these qualities compare to astronomical telescope sites across the globe
• How Maunakea’s uniqueness translates into new discoveries

“Mark Chun is an astronomer specializing in the field of adaptive optics – a technique to undo the blurring effects of the Earth’s atmosphere,” the media release says. “He has spent more than 20 years designing and building instruments for ground-based telescopes around the world.”

The Maunakea Speaker Series is a monthly presentation offered as a partnership among the Office of Maunakea Management, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, and the University of Hawai’i at Hilo Department of Physics & Astronomy. “This collaborative venture gives the community unprecedented access to fascinating research taking place on Maunakea and other topics unique to the Island of Hawai’i,” the organizers say. “A venue for scholars to share their stories and learn from discussion, the series promotes understanding and collaboration across all sectors of the community, while addressing the goals of the University of Hawai’i at Hilo.”