Ayrton Takane was born and raised in Hilo, Hawai‘i, where
he graduated from Waiakea High School in 2021. He
graduated from the University of Hawaii at Hilo with his
bachelor’s degree in computer science in May of 2025. His
goals are to work in the field of computer science in Hilo. In
his free time, Ayrton enjoys playing taiko with Taishoji Taiko,
playing video games, and spending time with friends and
family.
Home Island: Hilo, Hawaii Island
High School: Waiakea High School
Institution when accepted: UH Hilo
Site: Subaru Telescope. Hilo, Hawaii Island
Mentors: Russell Kackley & Eric Jeschke
Project title: Improving and Adding Features to the Subaru Telescope Simulator
Project Abstract:
The Subaru Telescope in Hilo is actively enhancing the design and implementation of components
for its telescope simulation software for several purposes, such as testing systems and training
operators. The Subaru Telescope Simulator, however, is missing some functionality, preventing it
from being effective for these purposes. While many features still need to be updated and added,
this project will focus on a few key features, including non-sidereal tracking, a special type of
tracking that adjusts for the movement of the celestial bodies in addition to the rotation of the
Earth. Another optional feature is to push the simulation to its operational limits, allowing the
system to test alarm responses to out-of-range conditions. Another important addition would be
improvements to the simulation tracking system. Once successfully implemented, these new
additions to the system will be tested, optimized, and then fully integrated into the live simulation.
This will be a continuation of the work done by previous interns, which means picking up where
they left off and using their work as a foundation. The Subaru Telescope Simulator is written in
Python; therefore, all files must maintain compatibility with this programming language. The
documentation will summarize the key improvements made during the project and identify
remaining features for future development.