D1116 Astronomical Observatories

The sun sets on the astronomical observatories above the clouds, on Mauna Kea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The observatories are perched at an altitude of 13,800 feet (4205m) with accommodations for the research astronomers in Hale Pohaku down the road at 9,300 feet (2835m). The high altitude and remote location make for ideal viewing conditions for the telescopes housed inside the high tech domes.

These telescopes include the Caltech Sub millimeter Observatory CSO, Canada France Hawaii Telescope CFHT, Gemini North Telescope, NASA Infrared Telescope Facility IRTF, James Clerk Maxwell Telescope JCMT, Subaru Telescope, Sub-Millimeter Array SMA, United Kingdom Infrared Telescope UKIRT, University of Hawaii 24 Inch UH24 and 88 Inch UH88, W.M. Keck Observatory and one of the receivers from the Very Long Baseline Array VLBA.