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Posted: Monday, June 4th, 2012 8:54 AM HST

UK Council will end operations of telescopes atop Mauna Kea

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

The United Kingdom's Science and Technology Facilities Council will end operation of two telescopes atop Mauna Kea in the coming years. The council says it will no longer support the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope at the end of September 2013. It's the northern hemisphere's largest telescope dedicated solely to infrared astronomy and is located near the summit of Mauna Kea. The neighboring James Clerk Maxwell Telescope will continue operating until the end of September 2014. In 2009, the council recommended closing both telescopes by the end of this year, but the council allowed for an extension pending a review by an independent advisory board. The council says if an alternate operator is not found for either telescope, they will be decommissioned.