| Joseph was born on the island of Oahu and raised on the Big Island where he graduated from Kealakehe High School. He is currently attending the University of Hawai’i at Manoa in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduating he plans on working as an engineer in a quickly evolving scientific field like astronomy. Joseph likes to spend his free time at the gym or in the ocean surfing, diving and fishing. |
Home Island: Big Island of Hawaii
High School: Kealakehe High School.
Institution when accepted: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Project title: Baffling Design for the Fore-Optics of the SCALES Instrument
Project Site: University of California Observatories, Santa Cruz, California
Mentor: Cristian Rodriguez
Project Abstract:
Astronomical instruments are specialized devices that enhance telescope observations. The Slicer Combined with an Array of Lenslets for Exoplanetary Spectroscopy (SCALES) is a new instrument being developed at the University of California Observatories (UCO). SCALES will be commissioned at the W. M. Keck Observatory and observe exoplanets using thermal infrared imaging and integral field spectroscopy. These are the best methods for analyzing exoplanets and when used this instrument will give us a clearer and closer look than ever before at these exoplanets. These instruments consist of sensitive mirrors and detectors and it is essential to block unwanted light from reaching them. This can be achieved through baffling which is a structure that encloses the desired light path shielding it from any stray photons. Thus, the focus of this project is to design a baffling system for the fore-optics of SCALES which is the subsystem of mirrors located at the entrance point of the instrument. This is achieved using Solidworks where the baffling system is designed and virtually assembled into a complete Solidworks model of SCALES. The design was verified by stakeholders and a prototype will be made to test the baffling effectiveness at blocking photons. After rigorous testing a final product will be made and become part of the final design of the SCALES instrument.