Should we build another telescope on mauna kea?
chris808costa asked:
On the Big Island in Hawaii they are debating on building another telescope on the mountain. But people are complaining about it. What do you think? Should they put another one?
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On the Big Island in Hawaii they are debating on building another telescope on the mountain. But people are complaining about it. What do you think? Should they put another one?
April 1st, 2009 at 8:08 pm
I have visited the top of Mauna Kea, and there are a LOT of telescopes on its summit. Of course, the major one is the Keck telescope. I’m not sure why people are complaining, I’m guessing it’s maybe the cost which could be spent on other things. Since I am fascinated with astronomy, I am biased towards building it, presumably it would be even better than the Keck. With the Hubble, and the soon to be launched new space telescope, however, it can only be second best, since it has to deal with atmospheric distortion. Still, the Keck has given us much information about deep space and you can only have so many astronomers on any one scope at any given time. The study of the night sky has more practical implications than one might think.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:54 am
I think that if a new telescope were to be built, Mauna Kea on the Big Island would be a great location for it.
It is very far away from any cities, and on the Big Island there are laws about light pollution. Mauna Kea is 13,000-14,000 feet above sea level and isolated in the middle of the island in the middle of the ocean.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Probably not. There already is massive resentment on the part of Hawaiian natives because astronomers have abused their agreements and built many more telescopes than permitted on what is a holy site.
A better site is the Atacama Desert in Peru, which is as good or better for astronomy, and isn’t sacred land for anyone.
April 8th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Maybe. Chile is running out of observatory-free mountains.