Big Island Vacation Guide 2009 - (Page 19) Telescopes on the summit of Maunakea. Kirk Lee Aeder “Few places on earth are better for watching the heavens than atop Maunakea.” Stargazing Remember when you were young, there seemed to be so many more stars? Well now it seems they are all in the sky over the island of Hawai‘i. Few places on earth are better for watching the heavens than atop Maunakea. That’s why astronomers from all over the world work in the 13 giant telescopes at the summit. Up here there’s practically no light pollution that probably obscures the night sky in your backyard. At the 9,300-foot elevation, on your way to the summit, you will find the Ellison S. Onizuka Center for International Astronomy, named in honor of Hawai‘i’s first astronaut who was tragically lost in the space shuttle Challenger disaster. The center shows a video about astronomy and provides two telescopes to aid stargazers. The center leads a free tour of the summit on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for those who bring a four-wheel drive vehicle. At press time, the center was open daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. Hours are subject to change so it’s a good idea to check, 961-2180 or www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis. 800-648-2441 19 http://www.maunakea.com http://www.maunakea.com http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis
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