2023 September – 2024 July: Facility Deconstruction and Removal

The CSO dome and other buildings have been deconstructed and removed from Maunakea. Removal of foundations and underground structures is complete. Active site restoration is complete. These are some notable steps in the process.

• 2024-07-01: Complete demobilization of equipment.
• 2024-06-30: Complete removal of foundation and underground structures. Complete active restoration of site.
• 2024-05-30: Complete removal of buildings from Maunakea. Start removal of foundation and underground structures.
• 2024-04-29: Start deconstruction of CSO dome.
• 2024-04-23: Mobilize equipment for deconstruction of structures.
• 2024-02-28: Disconnect electric power to observatory; remove electrical transformer from Maunakea.
• 2023-10-08: Pause interior demolition; remove demolition debris from Maunakea.
• 2023-09-25: Disconnect electric power to dome; start interior demolition in dome.
• 2023-09-15: Remove backup generator from Maunakea.

2024-04-29—2024-07-01: Facility deconstruction and removal from the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (Faster version; video courtesy National Astronomical Observatory of Japan).

2024-04-29—2024-07-01: Facility deconstruction and removal from the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (Slower version; video courtesy National Astronomical Observatory of Japan).

CSO Dome Removal Timelapse at youtube. (Video courtesy National Astronomical Observatory of Japan).

Click through for full resolution images.

2024-07-01: Equipment demobilization and active site restoration complete (Image courtesy National Astronomical Observatory of Japan).

2024-04-26 & 2024-06-28: Start and finish of facility deconstruction and removal of the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory from Maunakea. The CSO is in the foreground; the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and the Submillimeter Array are in the background.

2024-05-30: Removal of buildings complete (Image courtesy National Astronomical Observatory of Japan).

2024-04-29: Deconstruction of dome shutter (Images courtesy National Astronomical Observatory of Japan).

2024-02-28: Removal of electrical transformer.

2023-12-07: CSO buildings awaiting deconstruction after removal of telescope.

c. 2001: Leighton telescope at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory before disassembly.

c. 1990. Leighton telescope at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory.