TORONTO, April 7, 2015 – The Government of Canada has announced it will provide up to $243.5 million over 10 years for Canadian participation in the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), an international effort to build in Hawaii one of the largest and most advanced astronomical observatories in the world. (see federal government media release).

York University astronomy experts are available to comment on how this international project will dramatically improve scientists’ ability to study star and planet formation, supermassive black holes and distant galaxies.

York U experts include:

Patrick Hall, associate professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, who studies supermassive black holes at the centres of distant galaxies.

Paul Delaney, senior lecturer, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, Director of the York University Observatory.
**York University’s media studio is available for double-ender interviews.**

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Media Contact: Janice Walls, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 ext. 22101 / wallsj@yorku.ca