Dr. Jim Lyke is a support astronomer at the W.M. Keck Observatory. There, he helps keep the astronomical instruments working and he helps visiting astronomers get the best data possible. Jim was raised near Rochester, Minnesota. His interest in astronomy began when Halley’s Comet returned to the night sky in 1986. A 2nd-year college class in astronomy showed Jim that the night sky was not only pretty, but scientifically interesting as well. He got his first taste for research in the summer between his junior and senior years of college through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Wyoming. After graduating with degrees in Physics and Astrophysics from the University of Minnesota, he continued in graduate school where he maintained telescopes and instruments for the University. Jim earned his Ph.D. in Astrophysics after six years and moved to the Big Island in 2003. When not working, Jim can be found training for triathlons, hiking, or enjoying the beach.