Tours and Tickets to Experience Mauna Kea Summit & Observatory
Visiting the Mauna Kea Summit and Observatories gives you the feeling of being on top of the world for good reason: You’re actually pretty close. Standing at 13,796 feet (4,138 meters), the mountain is Hawaii's tallest and the highlight of many visitors' trips to the Big Island of Hawaii.
Tours and Tickets to Experience Mauna Kea Summit & Observatory
The Mauna Kea Observatory is one of the most important astronomical observatories in the world. It is located at the summit of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii, and is home to some of the world’s most advanced telescopes.
The observatory was established in the 1960s, and since then it has played an important role in advancing our understanding of the universe. The site was chosen because of its high altitude of 13,796 feet (4,205 meters) above sea level, which provides clear, stable skies with minimal atmospheric disturbance. The observatory is operated by the University of Hawaii and the Institute for Astronomy.
The Mauna Kea Observatory has a total of 13 telescopes, including the world’s largest optical and infrared telescopes. The observatory also has several radio telescopes and a solar telescope. These telescopes allow astronomers to study a wide range of astronomical objects, from the planets in our solar system to distant galaxies.
One of the most famous telescopes at the Mauna Kea Observatory is the Keck Observatory, which consists of two telescopes each with a primary mirror 10 meters in diameter. These telescopes are among the largest in the world and are used to study the most distant and faint objects in the universe.
The Mauna Kea Observatory is also home to the Subaru Telescope, which is owned and operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. This telescope has a primary mirror 8.2 meters in diameter and is used to study the formation and evolution of galaxies.
Despite its scientific importance, the Mauna Kea Observatory has faced controversy in recent years. Some Native Hawaiians argue that the observatory’s construction and operation on Mauna Kea, a sacred site, is disrespectful and damaging to the environment. There have been protests and legal battles over the observatory’s continued operation.
Despite these challenges, the Mauna Kea Observatory remains one of the most important astronomical observatories in the world. Its telescopes have made countless discoveries and advancements in our understanding of the universe, and it will surely continue to play a vital role in astronomy for many years to come.