theJCMT

The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, often abbreviated as JCMT, is a single-dish submillimetre telescope located at an altitude of 4,092 meters (13,425 feet) on Mauna Kea in Hawaii. It is the largest single dish in the world operating at millimetre wavelengths. The JCMT is operated by the East Asian Observatory (EAO) on behalf of its partners: the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) in China, and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) in Korea.

The primary scientific goal of the JCMT is to study the cold universe, observing objects that are too cold to be detected by optical telescopes. This includes molecules in interstellar clouds, the formation of stars and planets, and the early universe. Its capabilities allow astronomers to probe regions obscured by dust, such as stellar nurseries. The telescope's large mirror, 15 meters in diameter, provides high sensitivity and resolution for its operating wavelengths.

The JCMT has been instrumental in numerous astronomical discoveries since its commissioning in 1987. It has contributed significantly to our understanding of star formation processes, the composition of comets, and the interstellar medium. The telescope is equipped with a suite of advanced instruments, including receivers that operate across a range of submillimetre wavelengths, enabling diverse scientific investigations. Access to the JCMT is available to astronomers from its partner institutions and through international collaborations.