Tech & Biz

World's Largest Telescope to be Built on Mauna Kea Volcano Hawaii

by peder.sande | July 22, 2009 at 11:17 am

396 views | 22 Recommendations | 7 comments

A group of US and Canadian universities have decided to build the world's largest telescope, on the Mauna Kea volcano. The telescope is 30 m in diameter and will be able to see 13 billion light years into space. The current largest telescope is only 10 m in diameter making the new telescope 3 times larger.

Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano, is already home to 12 telescopes. It's popular with astronomers because its summit sits well above the clouds at 13,796 feet, giving scientists a clear view of the sky above for 300 days a year.

The Thirty Meter Telescope will be able to see planets orbiting neighboring stars and answer questions of possible life on those planets. The world's largest telescope construction does not go unopposed. Environmental and native Hawaiian groups are calling for the oblation of the plans. Native Hawaiians consider Mauna Kea sacred and environmentalists are worried about rare plant and insect species, which reside on the mountain.

Marti Townsend, program director for Kahea: The Hawaiian Environmental Alliance, said opposition groups will go to court to stop the project if needed.

"This is a bad decision done in bad faith," Townsend said.

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aftab.

at 15:25 on July 22nd, 2009

Thanks for selecting my photo for publishing. I am honored to share it here.

aftab. has contributed a photo to this story.

Old camera guy

at 18:07 on July 22nd, 2009

This was originally a color photo I shot on Kodachrome 64 with my Leica M6 rangefinder camera. Converted it to black and white in Photoshop Elements. Shot this a few years ago during the winter as I was driving along Saddle Road on Hawaii Island. Yes, Hawaii does get snow.

Old camera guy has contributed a photo to this story.

158

at 19:41 on July 22nd, 2009

Goo0d story. That telescope should advance astronomy.

huntingdesigns

at 19:56 on July 22nd, 2009

If you go to the Big Island, this is a must see. Stay until after dark because the sky up there is intense. This was taken with a 50mm F1.8 pointed straight into the air...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/huntingdesigns/3577623422/sizes/l/in/set-72157618869073518/

huntingdesigns has contributed a photo to this story.

asim choudhri

at 20:58 on July 22nd, 2009

this photo was taken in the late afternoon after hiking to the mauna kea summit. i slipped down the ice, and ended up spending a little longer than expected there, but the amazing scenery made it worth it.

asim choudhri has contributed a photo to this story.

efiniste

at 00:17 on July 23rd, 2009

I took this just before sunset, the shadow of the mountain on the clouds below was quite amazing! An awesome place to be as the sun goes down. Once it's gone the sky and stars are unlike anything I've experienced before or since.

efiniste has contributed a photo to this story.