Mauna Kea and the Big Island

[Retrograde (Pete)]

Just returned from Hawaii a week ago and like most amateur astronomers I felt a visit to the summit of Mauna Kea was a must.
I went with the Arnott's Lodge Tour as we were staying in Hilo for a few days and they run their tours from Hilo.

The first Picture is a montage of the Keck twins with the Subaru telescope on the left and the Nasa Infrared observatory on the right. You can see Haleakala on Maui peeking through the clouds in the background. The second pic shows the shadow of Mauna Kea on the cloud layer below and the third picture is the silver dome of the Gemini North 8m Telescope with the dome of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope next to it. The final pic is a bonus one of the lava fountain pouring into the sea near Kalapana.
Hawaii is truly an amazing place.

[skysurfer]

Really nice pics !

Particularly the last photo looks like dumping industrial tailings into the sea, but actually it is red hot lava !

[RickS (Rick)]

Must have been a great experience, Pete!

[Nikolas (Nik)]

I was there in '94 and the lava has been pouring into the sea non stop, amazing what nature can dish out.

[Retrograde (Pete)]

Originally Posted by skysurfer

Really nice pics !

Particularly the last photo looks like dumping industrial tailings into the sea, but actually it is red hot lava !

Thanks skysurfer!

Originally Posted by RickS

Must have been a great experience, Pete!

Yep it sure was. I'd wanted to visit Hawaii for a long time & finally gotten the chance.

Originally Posted by Nikolas

I was there in '94 and the lava has been pouring into the sea non stop, amazing what nature can dish out.

Nature at its most intense.

A close up of the lava through the little astrotech 65 EDQ:

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Ah takes me back!! great photos and that one of the lava is intense!!!
graz

[Retrograde (Pete)]

Originally Posted by graham.hobart

Ah takes me back!! great photos and that one of the lava is intense!!!
graz

Thanks Graham.