W. M. Keck Observatory

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/w-m-keck-observatory

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the telescope design?Two 10-meter aperture reflecting telescopes with segmented primary mirrors
2. What is the mirror construction?Each 10-meter mirror is composed of 36 hexagonal segments
3. How big are the mirrors on the Keck telescopes?Each mirror is 10 meters wide and is made of 36 hexagonal pieces that work together to act like one perfect mirror.
4. Why is the observatory located on Mauna Kea?The high altitude and dry air above the inversion layer reduce fog and light pollution, giving very clear views of the sky.

Reflecting Telescope: A telescope that uses mirrors to gather and focus light, as opposed to lenses.
Adaptive Optics: Technology that corrects for atmospheric distortion to produce sharper astronomical images.
Spectroscopy: The study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation, used to analyze light from celestial objects.