After Dark on Mauna Kea Volcano

The summit area of Mauna Kea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi is considered sacred by many indigenous Hawaiians. Undeniably, it is a special place deserving of respect. At night, its allure is especially powerful.

Westward view from the summit area of Mauna Kea Volcano as dusk approaches. Silhouetted on the right skyline, from left to right, are the Subaru Telescope, the twin telescopes of the W.M Keck Observatory, and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF).

The Magic Starts At Sunset

The western view from the summit area of Mauna Kea features a striking perspective of the Pacific Ocean and, on a clear day below, of Maui and other islands in the chain. Dynamic cloud formations are a staple and sunsets can be spectacular.

Time-lapse sunset from the summit area of Mauna Kea Volcano on May 20, 2025. Silhouetted in the right foreground are Subaru Telescope (leftmost) and the twin telescopes of the W.M. Keck Observatory.

When Darkness Falls, The Heavens Join In

Both W.M. Keck Observatory telescopes (Keck I and Keck II) on the left are equipped with laser guide star (LGS) adaptive optics, which compensate for defocusing effects from atmospheric turbulence. The Subaru Telescope on the right is partly illuminated by a rising moon.

Dance of the Milky Way

Seeing the Milky Way from the summit area of Mauna Kea is thrilling. Watching it dance across the sky while one of the W.M. Keck telescopes uses a laser to improve its observations of the massive black hole at our galaxy’s center is …. (watch)