09-14-2010, 05:06 PM
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.
