Observing on Maui vs. Big Island

This is great info, thanks. So what will the temperature be up there in
January? If it's cold enough to require a heavy coat, can you recommend
a protected spot on the mountain? I don't mind going down another
1000ft if it's going to be significantly warmer. It's important to keep
the wife happy!

Chris1011 wrote:
Are there any sites on Maui where the observing is as good as it is from the

Mauna Kea Visitor Center (~9000sf) or Saddle Rd. (~6000sf) on the Big
Island? I'm especially interested in hearing from those who have observed
on both islands. I'm most interested in naked eye viewing. We viewed from
the Saddle Rd. a few years back and it was really spectacular, just
wondering if Maui is any match for it.

Absolutely. You can observe from the summit of Haleakela at 10,300 ft. The sky
is so dark there that the Milky Way casts a shadow. You can stay all night, no
one will bother you. I have observed twice up there - both times the air was
super clear. I could see deep sky objects in my 90mm travel scope down to the
horizon. I was able to see down to declination -72, which is only 18 degrees
from the south celestial pole. Bring a pair of binocs if you don't have a small
scope. The conditions are definitely as good - some say better - than the
observing center on Mauna Kea.

Roland Christen

This is great info, thanks. So what will the temperature be up there in
January? I

Below freezing at night, in the low 60's in the daytime.

Roland Christen

(Chris1011) wrote in message ...
I could see deep sky objects in my 90mm travel scope down to the
horizon. I was able to see down to declination -72, which is only 18 degrees
from the south celestial pole.

Roland, to what extent are the Magellanic Clouds visible from Hawai'i?
I believe they're between about -65 and -75 degrees declination, so
I'm sure they'd be very close to the horizon even from Hawai'i. Are
they visible enough to be impressive?

Allison K.

Go to the top of Haleakala volcano on Maui, paved all the way to the top at
10,000 feet, there's a visitor center there too.


Haleakala is tops. However, I found a great viewing area just down
from the summit at approx 9000+'. It's a turn off to the left (as you
are going up, and the first to the right as you are coming down). It
has an outhouse and headlight traffic on the road won't mess up your
night vision. This spot is still near the summit, but just not at the
summit.

A local astronomy tour group guide turned me on to this spot one
night. I was at the summit watching the sunset and saw his two vans
full of Japanese tourists and talked to him for a while. He takes his
tourists to this spot but he leaves after an hour or so.

Another item of note: The Milky Way is indead very bright fromm
Haleakala. But, the next time I go to Maui I will try to find another
viewing location a little farther down the mountain at a lower
elevation. This is because I live at sea level and and I think the
rapid climb from sea level to ~9000 to 10,000 feet leaves me slightly
hypoxic. I didn't feel any abnormal symtoms due to the thinner air
but one's night vision is the first thing affected by low oxygen
conditions.

While looking at the stars from 9000' I thought the summer Milky Way
didn't seem as bright as when I last saw it when I was a kid living on
the southern hemisphere (I now live in Alaska an never see the summer
Milky Way). This could have been due to fauly memories or hypoxia or
both.

Scott



"johannmon" wrote in message
...
Are there any sites on Maui where the observing is as good as it is from
the
Mauna Kea Visitor Center (~9000sf) or Saddle Rd. (~6000sf) on the Big
Island? I'm especially interested in hearing from those who have observed
on both islands. I'm most interested in naked eye viewing. We viewed
from
the Saddle Rd. a few years back and it was really spectacular, just
wondering if Maui is any match for it.

The nice thing about Saddle Rd. is the view seemed nearly as good as the
Visitor Center but the air wasn't as cold.

Thanks.

"
I have viewed from Maui twice, and will visit the Big Island this year
and Maui
again, I took my 80mm SV refractor and will take my SV 102mm EDT
again this
year. Viewing on Haleakala is like others have described. I would
amplify the
points that it is cold in Sept up there but not freezing (although you
might
feel like it. The lower level is quiet and a little off the path, but
at about
4:00 am the vans arrive with the bicycles. At night the upper
visitor's
center has had orange cones to discourage headlight interference to
the
observatories, but I have gone around them with parking lights OK.
Besides ve
hicles from the observatories come and go at what I presume are shift
changes.
You will see more southern sky from the upper level, but the lower
level is
shielded from the breeze better.

I can't compare to Big Is viewing yet, but Haleakala was fantastic for
me cause
the sky is as Roland described it. No sky glow from Kihei or Kahului,
and you
can even see lights on the Big Is 100 mi away. My viewing in Texarkana
is like
looking at the same objects through a veil of gauze even in the best
times.

My 80mm showed me better images than my 102mm back home. I highly
encourage you
to take a scope or binocs or buy some at K-mart in Kahului.

There is no charge for entrance at night, and I go up even when the
summit looks shrouded in clouds from sea level looking up. I have even
been rained on
going up and then gone through it to the top and Clear sky. Go up
before sunset and witness stunning beauty, the people will start to
thin out, and all
that will be left are astronomers or lovers. I like the lower level
cause there
is drinking water and a restroom. Take snacks though.

Yes, you can read a newspaper by light of the Milky Way. Have fun.





Are there any sites on Maui where the observing is as good as it is from the
Mauna Kea Visitor Center (~9000sf) or Saddle Rd. (~6000sf) on the Big
Islandinterested in hearing from those who have observed
on both isl?