The University of Arizona and the University of Hawaii, with support from NASA and Lockheed Martin, are coming to the rescue of a major telescope which was in danger of shutting down because of budget constraints.

Under the agreement, the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, or UKIRT, considered one of the world’s leading astronomical observatories, will be owned by the University of Hawaii, with the University of Arizona taking over its directorship. 

The Science and Technology facilities Council in the UK had previously owned the telescope.

The partners plan to provide new research opportunities with a concentration on near-Earth asteroids, the study of forming stars, galaxy evolution and the impact of space debris on manmade satellites.

UK scientists will continue to participate by providing data processing and archiving capabilities for the observatory.

The U of A also manages programs for the Giant Magellan Telescope, the Jet Propulsion Lab’s Large Binocular Telescope and the High Elevation Antarctic Telehertz Telescope, among others.