Work Pics

I promised pics, and here are some.  THey're from work, I have to move the home pics to here I'l do that soon.

I'm operating a telescope on Muana Kea, here are some pics from there:

[JavaBuc]

Interesting.  I didn't know Hawaii had a place like that.

[kevabuc]

Does your neck ever get sore? Always wondered that.

[Ironphist]

cool pics Caradoc!

[BobLoblaw]

Is that on Haleakala?

[biffbeaumont]

Those are some fantastic pics Doc.....thanks for posting....

[Tampa Bay Todd]

How high are you up there? When you're looking over the clouds, that's too high for me!

[O.S. Buc76]

Sweet pics dude!

[bradentonian]

That's beautiful!  Great pics

[BucsBullsBolts]

Is that on Haleakala?

Don't think so. He lists his location as Hilo so it must be on the Big Island, not Maui ...

[dbucfan]

beautiful 'doc - looks like a memory a day.

[Trojan52]

That is truly something, I would love that view.

[cheveliar]

Bout freaking time...LOL, thanks Doc...very nice...

[michael89156]

Mauna Kea Observatory

The summit of Mauna Kea is managed by the University of Hawai'i's Institute for Astronomy. Mauna Kea is one of the most important land-based astronomy sites in the world.
Organization University of Hawai'i Institute for Astronomy
Code 568  (observations)
Location Mauna Kea, Hawai'i, USA
 

The Observatories at Mauna Kea, (MKO), are an independent collection of astronomical research facilities located on the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawai'i, USA. The facilities are located in a 500-acre (2.0 km2) special land use zone known as the "Astronomy Precinct," which is located in the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. The Astronomy Precinct was established in 1967 and is located on land protected by the Historical Preservation Act for its significance to Hawaiian culture.

The location is ideal because of its dark skies, good astronomical seeing, low humidity and position above the majority of the water vapor in the atmosphere, clean air, good weather and almost equatorial location.[1]

Contents [hide]
1 Ownership
2 Location
3 Telescopes
4 2006 Hawaii earthquake
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
 

[edit] Ownership
The University of Hawai'i manages the site and leases land to several multi-national facilities which have invested more than $2 billion dollars in science and technology.[citation needed]


[edit] Location
The altitude and isolation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean makes Mauna Kea one of the best locations on earth for ground-based astronomy. It is an ideal location for submillimeter, infrared and optical observations. The seeing statistics show that Mauna Kea is the best site in terms of optical and infrared image quality -- for example the CFHT site has a median seeing of 0.43 arcseconds.

Accommodations for research astronomers are located at Hale Pohaku, seven miles by road from the summit at 9300 feet (2835 m) above sea level, and a visitor information station is located at 9200 feet (2775 m). The summit of Mauna Kea is so high that tourists are advised to stop at the visitor station for at least 30 minutes to acclimate to atmospheric conditions before continuing to the summit, and scientists often stay at Hale Pohaku for 8 hours or more before spending a full night at observatories on the summit, with some telescopes requiring observers to spend one full night at Hale Pohaku before working at the summit.


[edit] Telescopes
Telescopes found at the summit of Mauna Kea are funded by government agencies of various nations. The University of Hawai'i itself directly administers two telescopes. In total there are 12 telescopes at or around the summit of Mauna Kea. It will also be the site of the Thirty Meter Telescope and is a proposed site for Pan-STARRS.

Is that on Haleakala?

Don't think so. He lists his location as Hilo so it must be on the Big Island, not Maui ...

Correct, it's on Big Island.  The mountain you can see in the distance is Hale akala (maui).

it's about 14,000 feet up and cold as hell.

Most of my work is done remotely from in hilo, I have to go up and put liquid nitrogen on the camera occasionally, and only rarely have to go up to the summit at night.