Keck Interferometer (KI)

Located atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii, the Keck Interferometer (KI) uses the world's largest pair of optical telescopes, the Keck Telescopes, to create an interferometer with a sensitivity unmatched by any ground-based instrument of its type. KI in its varous operational modes is expected to have a productive lifetime of at least 20 years.

Using a nulling technique, KI is being used to directly observe dust known as zodiacal dust around nearby stars to provide information about planet formation, and to help plan how to reduce noise from exozodiacal dust for future missions like TPF.

KI has been operational in Keck-Keck visibility amplitude mode since March 2001.

The MSC is responsible for developing and operating the Science Operations System (SOS) for KI - including the program solicitation, user interface and consultation, data infrastructure, and (jointly with WMKO) science operations for KI. Information on MSC user services for KI is given here.

For more information on the Keck Interferometer, see the JPL KI home page.