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+--- Thread: Mauna Kea UKIRT Tour (/showthread.php?tid=7790)
Mauna Kea UKIRT Tour - DaVinci - 09-14-2010
Okay, I just want to take a moment to thank TomK for taking me and my wife and several others to the top of Mauna Kea on Saturday last. It was breathtaking, to be on the highest point in Hawaii, and it was inspiring to see all of that technology at work. We stopped first at the Visitor's Center, to acclimate, of course. (And to purchase some necessary provisions for the trek, e.g. Milky Way bars and Slim Jims.) Once we began the ascent, I realized that one really only needs a 4 wheel drive vehicle in nasty weather. It was a lovely climb, and we stopped briefly at a radio telescope that was part of a nationwide array (but alas, I forget the name). Next stop was the JCMT, named after one of my favorite figures of modern science. The JCMT is a submillimeter wavelength telescope, examining electromagnetic waves between the far infrared and the microwave wavelength. Tom explained that the JCMT had to be well above the clouds, since water vapor itself fluctuated at these wavelengths. Then Tom took us inside the JCMT, and we got to see the coldest object in the universe, a spectrometer inside the telescope that is cooled to several thousands of a degree Kelvin above absolute zero, well below the coldest regions of space, which measure approximately 2.72K. Next, we stopped at the twin Keck telescopes, from which many of the other telescopes can be seen, as well as Maui, in the distance, to the north. After a revitalizing Slim Jim, we trekked onward, to the penultimate peak at the summit, where the UKIRT telescope stood. Tom is the scientist in charge of the UKIRT, the largest infrared telescope in the world. We got to go inside the UKIRT as well, just as his technician and a graduate student were opening up for the evening. We watched the vents open, then marveled as the canvas skirt was rolled back and the actual telescope rumbled to life and started to swivel skyward. Then, while Thor meticulously calibrated the telescope, taking "darks" that would act a baselines, we all went back outside to view one of the most spectacular sunsets I've ever had the privilege to witness. Between the twin Kecks and the JCMT, Maui was getting more and more pronounced. We could even see Kahoolawe to the left of Maui, poking up through the clouds. Back inside, we chatted for awhile longer with the two fellows who were going to spend the night, the nicest guys you could ever meet, by the way... I mean, we were invading their work area but they were nonetheless cheerful and eager to answer any questions we lay enthusiasts might toss at them. Finally, though, it was time to descend. We were all short of breath and filled with wonder. We made great new friends that day, including Tom, who I'd never met before that day, and I hope those friendships endure. I cannot thank TomK enough for his kindness and hospitality, his generosity and his Aloha. I will remember last Saturday for a long time to come, and look forward to another chance to visit that wonderful mountain.
RE: Mauna Kea UKIRT Tour - Dennis - 09-14-2010
Nice recap! We are planning on visiting the summit in early November, weather permitting. Unfortunately, we will not get to meet Tom who has provided us with a lot of good information. Can you tell me about the drive up?
Thanks,
Dennis
RE: Mauna Kea UKIRT Tour - islandboo - 09-15-2010
Wow - lucky you! Thanks for sharing the adventure with us.
RE: Mauna Kea UKIRT Tour - DaVinci - 09-21-2010
The drive up was a breeze, but I hesitate to advise anyone, as Tom told me conditions change drastically between summer and winter, good weather and bad. The road is well made, and even paved at the top to keep the dust down, but the final incline is more than 20ยบ, and in icy conditions is understandably treacherous. Also, the cause of many accidents on the road has more to do with not driving back down in low gear with 4WD engaged. Folks tend to drive down riding their brakes, not really understanding that on a slope like that, brakes can and do burn out. Then you're on a very intense switchback road with no way to slow down. Have fun and be careful!
RE: Mauna Kea UKIRT Tour - EightFingers - 09-21-2010
The problem is not brakes burning out per se, but boiling of the brake fluid. Once boiling starts, you have no brakes.
RE: Mauna Kea UKIRT Tour - Dennis - 09-22-2010
Thanks. We will have a 4WD vehicle and understand about using low gear and in 4WD. Hope the weather holds.
Dennis
RE: Mauna Kea UKIRT Tour - TomK - 10-07-2010
EightFingers - I think it's both to be honest. People's brakes go because the fluid boils but I have witnessed on more than one occasion brakes actually on fire. We've also had a couple of recent accidents due to glare from the low sun blinding people.
Just a quick correction on DaVinci's post - Scuba-2 is actually an imager, not a spectrometer! It is awfully cold though and about to go into operation, so my fingers are crossed that it works really well. Many people's jobs are riding on it performing well.
I've been on vacation recently and of course really busy afterwards catching up on stuff, but I just posted a couple of sunset shots I took during the tour DaVinci and friends went on. You can click on the images to see larger versions if you want.
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/2010/10/you-know-where.html
It was a great bunch of people who came on the tour. I made new friends and hope everyone that came along had a good time.
Tom