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Mauna Kea Observatories

World's Premier Spot for Viewing the Heavens

Observatory in Mauna Kea Forest Reserve on Big Island (Hawai‘ian Islands) near Honoka’a, HI

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The Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) are a number of independent astronomical research facilities and large telescope observatories that are located at the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, United States. The facilities are located in a 525-acre (212 ha) special land use zone known as the "Astronomy Precinct", which is located within the 11,228-acre (4,544 ha) Mauna Kea Science Reserve. The Astronomy Precinct was established in 1967 and is located on land protected by the Historical Preservation Act for its significance to Hawaiian culture. The location is ideal because of its dark skies, good astronomical seeing, low humidity and position above most of the water vapor in the atmosphere, clean air, good weather and almost equatorial location.

Observatories

Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

Observatory in Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Big Island, Hawai‘ian Islands near Honoka’a, HI

Gemini Observatory

Observatory in Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Big Island, Hawai‘ian Islands near Honoka’a, HI

NASA Infrared Telescope Facility

Observatory in Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Big Island, Hawai‘ian Islands near Honoka’a, HI

James Clerk Maxwell Telescope

Observatory in Big Island, Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Hawai‘ian Islands near Honoka’a, HI

Subaru Telescope

Observatory in Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Big Island, Hawai‘ian Islands near Honoka’a, HI

Very Long Baseline Array

Observatory in Big Island, Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Hawai‘ian Islands near Honoka’a, HI

Keck Observatory

Observatory in Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Big Island, Hawai‘ian Islands near Honoka’a, HI

University of Hawaii 2.2-Meter Telescope

Observatory in Big Island, Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Hawai‘ian Islands near Honoka’a, HI

Caltech Submillimeter Observatory

Observatory in Big Island, Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Hawai‘ian Islands near Honoka’a, HI

Publicly Accessible Stargazing

Mauna Kea Observatories are not open to the public, but the skies are equally clear for superb stargazing in more comfortable conditions at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Center (VIS).