April 27, 2021
Ashley Kaya
The phrase, “out-of-this-world” has taken on a whole new meaning for Ashley Kaya. The Kalani High School senior is interested in searching for signs of an Earth-like planet within Perseus, a massive constellation hundreds of light years away.
Guided by mentors at the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (
IfA), Kaya’s ambitious proposal captured the attention of Maunakea Scholars, an innovative program designed to award local students observing time on world-class telescopes. The Oʻahu native now has the opportunity to use the Las Cumbres Observatory, which has facilities on Haleakalā and around the world, to conduct astronomical research for her project, “Determining the Habitable Zone of Algol.” That zone lies within the region of Perseus’ brightest star.