United Kingdom Infrared Telescope
| Alternative names | UKIRT |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Hawaiʻi County, Hawaii |
| Coordinates | 19°49′21″N 155°28′14″W / 19.8225°N 155.47069444444°W |
| Observatory code | T11 |
| Wavelength | 30 μm (10.0 THz) |
| Diameter | 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Website | about |
Location of United Kingdom Infrared Telescope | |
| Related media on Commons | |
The United Kingdom Infra-Red Telescope (UKIRT) is a 3.8 metre (150 inch) infrared reflecting telescope, the second largest dedicated infrared (1 to 30 micrometres) telescope in the world. It is located on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i as part of Mauna Kea Observatory. Until 2014 it was operated by the Joint Astronomy Centre in Hilo and was owned by the United Kingdom Science and Technology Facilities Council. UKIRT is currently being funded by NASA and operated under scientific cooperation between Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, the University of Hawaii, and the U. S. Naval Observatory. The telescope is set to be decommissioned after completion of the Thirty Meter Telescope as part of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan.
Decommissioning of UKIRT started on July 7th, 2025.