Mauna Kea is the highest point in Hawai’i and a sacred site for native Hawaiian culture. The peak is 13,803 feet above sea level. It is the tallest sea mountain in the world from base at the sea floor to peak – over 33,000 feet. Mauna Kea’s summit is home to the world’s largest observatory for optical, infrared and submillimeter astronomy. Research teams from eleven different countries operate 13 telescopes atop Mauna Kea.
So peaceful up here. After the sunset we descended to about 9,000 to see the undiluted sky. Our guide pointed out the various constellations. This was better than any observatory I have been to – this was the real thing! We saw Jupiter, Orion, the Little Dipper, Aries, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Persius and Aquarius, to name a few.
Lava field at base of Mauna Kea.Cinder cones on the side of Mauna Kea.Very Large Baseline Array, one of a series of ten satellite antennas around the US. It changed its angle slightly every 30 seconds or so while we were there.Above 9,000 feet elevation, the landscape looks like Mars!The telescopes on Mauna Kea are operated by 12 separate nonprofit observatories. Each has its own strengths with varying fields of view and sensitivities to light from radio to ultraviolet wavelengths, all important to the scientific productivity of Mauna Kea.
Mauna Kea is the world’s premier site for astronomy research because of the mountain’s high altitude, gentle slopes, calm air and dark skies allow for the clearest visibility on Earth for astronomical observation.Subaru telescope.Gemini telescope.The Subaru and two Keck telescopes.More satellite antennas.The true summit of Mauna Kea, a few feet higher than I am standing. It is a native sacred site, so visitors are not allow.This view is Mauna Loa to the south of Mauna Kea.A more complete view of Mauna Loa as the sun sets on Mauna Kea. Mauna Loa has elevation of 13,677 feet, and is part of the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.The mountain in the distance is Haleakalā on Maui! Two days earlier, we stood at the top of Haleakalā for sunrise and saw Mauna Kea in the distance! Amazing!Sunset on Mauna Kea! At almost 14,000 feet elevation, from here no clouds are above us!My group was not the only one at the summit for sunset!
