Funding for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, the most powerful instrument of its kind in the world, is under threat with President Trump's 2026 budget proposal.

Uncertain Future

During the 246th American Astronomical Society meeting, Christoph Keller, director of the National Solar Observatory, highlighted the potential closure of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) if President Trump's 2026 budget request is approved.

Keller expressed concerns that allocating only $13 million for DKIST, as proposed in the budget, would not be sufficient for its operation. This amount is significantly lower than the $30 million expected to be spent on the facility this year by the National Solar Observatory.

Challenges Ahead

The graph presented by Keller illustrated the financial situation, showing a 54% budget cut between the current year and the proposed budget for DKIST. This cut would jeopardize the telescope's operation, especially considering its recent activation after years of development.

DKIST, located on the Hawaiian island of Maui, is the largest and most powerful solar telescope globally, providing groundbreaking insights into the sun's activities. Scientists emphasized the significance of this instrument, which captures high-resolution images of the sun, revealing details never seen before.

Remarkable Discoveries

One of the notable images captured by DKIST shows cell-like structures on the sun's surface, each the size of Texas. This image represents the highest resolution of the sun to date, showcasing the telescope's capabilities.

Other images reveal magnetic patterns and features on the sun's surface, offering valuable data for scientific research. However, the future of DKIST and other NSO facilities remains uncertain if the proposed budget cuts are implemented.

Call to Action

Keller urged Congress and citizens to advocate for adequate funding to support essential scientific research and maintain critical observatories like DKIST.