Hawaii - Part 5
Our 5th day in Hawaii would take us to the top of the tallest mountain in the world. Mauna Kea, a holy place for the Hawaiians and for all of mankind.
The road winding towards Mauna Kea sits between it and Mauna Loa, the largest mountain in the world. Going on the base of Mauna Kea provided a good view of this enormous mountain.
Mauna Loa's peak sits atop the clouds, here we can see this massive shield volcano slope below the clouds. The mountain also claims the title of the second tallest mountain in the entire solar system, dwarfed only by a monstrous mountain on Mars.
The top of Mauna Kea is the prime choice to study the universe. Its peak is lined with observatories that reveal some of the deepest and darkest secrets of the universe. Soon an observatory will be built here so powerful that it is hoped that we will be able to look out and see "first light".
Mauna Kea is an incredibly massive mountain. There is no way to take a picture that could reveal its size. Even gazing upon it doesn't do it justice, as its mass is simply too so grand. Instead, its scale is revealed by the shadow that it casts upon the land below and the clouds. The below picture is not a picture of another mountain, but merely the shadow cast by Mauna Kea.
The sun sets upon the sacred land of Mauna Kea. Soon the observatories here will be looking into the night sky.
Jenn and I catch the last rays of sunlight to get a picture of us among the clouds. The low oxygen atop this peak (we have 40% less atmosphere here) contributes to our goofy grins.
The sun descends dramatically behind Subaru observatory, the pride of Japan. We were told that many Japanese tourists come here specifically to see this famous lens into the cosmos.
These observatories rest as ancient gods might atop this mountain.
The sun hides behind the clouds and vanishes from sight.
It gets very cold and we head back down the mountain, leaving this alien and sacred land to those who watch the heavens.
The road winding towards Mauna Kea sits between it and Mauna Loa, the largest mountain in the world. Going on the base of Mauna Kea provided a good view of this enormous mountain.
Mauna Loa's peak sits atop the clouds, here we can see this massive shield volcano slope below the clouds. The mountain also claims the title of the second tallest mountain in the entire solar system, dwarfed only by a monstrous mountain on Mars.
The top of Mauna Kea is the prime choice to study the universe. Its peak is lined with observatories that reveal some of the deepest and darkest secrets of the universe. Soon an observatory will be built here so powerful that it is hoped that we will be able to look out and see "first light".
Mauna Kea is an incredibly massive mountain. There is no way to take a picture that could reveal its size. Even gazing upon it doesn't do it justice, as its mass is simply too so grand. Instead, its scale is revealed by the shadow that it casts upon the land below and the clouds. The below picture is not a picture of another mountain, but merely the shadow cast by Mauna Kea.
The sun sets upon the sacred land of Mauna Kea. Soon the observatories here will be looking into the night sky.
Jenn and I catch the last rays of sunlight to get a picture of us among the clouds. The low oxygen atop this peak (we have 40% less atmosphere here) contributes to our goofy grins.
The sun descends dramatically behind Subaru observatory, the pride of Japan. We were told that many Japanese tourists come here specifically to see this famous lens into the cosmos.
These observatories rest as ancient gods might atop this mountain.
The sun hides behind the clouds and vanishes from sight.
It gets very cold and we head back down the mountain, leaving this alien and sacred land to those who watch the heavens.