A Darker View

As I rise above the bottom I am enveloped in the school, hundreds of Yellowfin Goatfish hover in a long cloud of fish along the base of the reef. They part to allow me through, but otherwise seem unfazed by the large diver passing through their formation. Even the bright strobe fails to break their instinct to seek safety in the school.

Pāhoehoe requires temperatures upwards of 1100°C (2000°F) to flow. Its moments are dictated by the unusual properties of liquid basalt and seem quite odd to one who is used to watching less viscous materials flow.

Lying sideways on the sand would make one eye useless for most fish. Flounder have evolved a novel way to keep both eyes employed while hiding in plain sight. As the fish matures one eye migrates to join the other on the same side of the head. With nearly perfect camouflage the fish lies in the sand with both eyes scanning for trouble or potential prey. The pectoral fin, now useless for swimming, becomes instead a signal, used to catch the attention of the opposite sex.

W. M. Keck Position Announcement...

The W. M. Keck Observatory operates the world’s two largest optical/infrared telescopes located on the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Observatory seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer.

This position provides engineering, systems engineering and project management support to develop new telescope, enclosure and physical plant capabilities and upgrade our existing observatory infrastructure. Required competencies include sound engineering and design skills, and demonstrated ability in planning and managing medium- to large- scale, high precision mechanical and electro-mechanical systems projects. Prior telescope and physical plant engineering and systems engineering experience are highly desired. Ideal candidate should be a motivated self-starter who can manage multiple projects and priorities within a fast paced environment.

Minimum requirements and skills for this position include: Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering; Eight years of engineering work experience performing design and documentation using 3D design software, analysis, fabrication, test, and troubleshooting of medium- to large- scale, high precision mechanical and electro-mechanical systems projects; Three years experience in project management and reporting, and subcontract management; Experience in problem solving utilizing classical and finite element analysis techniques and data reduction utilities (spreadsheet, plotting, and database software); Engineering process and configuration management experience; Excellent written and oral communication skills; and Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

This is a regular position with a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including relocation assistance and private school (K-12) tuition support for dependent children. Salary is dependent upon qualifications and experience. The position is opened until filled. Employment is conditional on successful completion of drug tests and background check. Email resumes, references, and salary history to: Senior Mechanical Engineer, WMKO, 65-1120 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI 96743; Fax (808) 881-3696 or employment@keck.hawaii.edu. Additional information about WMKO and this position may be found on our web site at www.keckobservatory.org. EEO/M/F/D/V

Tomorrow, May 26th, Mercury will reach maximum elongation. The planet will reach 25.1° west of the Sun. Look for a 2nd magnitude object, rising ahead of the Sun. It will be 14° above the horizon, almost due east, at 05:30HST.

The Moon will pass by Mercury on June 10th, well away, about 6° north. Around June 20th, Mercury will become tough to spot as it dives back into the Sun's glare again. High overhead the bright planet Jupiter will rule the dawn sky.

I am currently using a Canon WP-DC34 waterproof case with the Canon G11 camera. The Canon case is quite nicely constructed, with access to all of the camera controls. The case is compact, but makes no provision for electrical connections to accessories like an external flash. Thus another method must be used.

With many dive strobes there is another method. To trigger the flash a fiber optic cable picks up the internal camera flash through the clear case and triggers the strobe. This system offers a triggering method that requires no opening in either the camera case or the flash case. The Sea&Sea YS-110 I am currently using supports this method of fiber optic triggering.

The first few dives with the fiber optic cable proved problematic, there were multiple occasions where the strobe failed to trigger. This was common enough to become a real annoyance. Solving the problem took a bit of testing and a little re-engineering.

The last few weeks have seen more traffic trouble than usual in Waimea. It is for a good cause however, a few months of construction will hopefully allow traffic to flow just a bit more easily through the town.

Slowly the crews are working their way along the highway. Huge chunks of asphalt are broken away as machines excavate the margins of the roadway. The old pavement must be removed so the that the subsurface can be excavated and replaced with rolled rock, creating a base that can support the weight of heavy traffic.

The widening of Mamalahoa highway continues through Waimea from the hospital to milepost 56. The new section will be two lanes with a new turn lane to allow a smoother flow of traffic and better access to the many businesses in this area.

Despite having to work around continuous traffic, distinct progress is being made. There is no available route onto which the island belt highway can be diverted. The highway must remain open during construction. Work is nearly complete in front of Keck headquarters and the hospital. The main effort is rapidly moving east.

Widening the main highway will ease the usual congestion through town, but will not solve the problem, only a complete bypass route will do that. But with the bypass tied up in political limbo, a little widening is better than nothing.

We got lucky.

The manta dives are a major tourist attraction in Kona. All the major dive operations participate with a gathering of a dozen boats or more in the appointed cove. As darkness falls there are a hundred or more divers and snorkelers clustered around the lights deployed to attract plankton. When the plankton comes, so do the mantas, looking to feed in the swirling clouds of small shrimp, worms and fish attracted to the lights. The snorkelers form a raft of people at the surface, the divers sit on the bottom with strict instructions to stay out of the water column, a space reserved for the mantas.

This night we ventured forth from Honokohau Harbor with Steve and Cathy from Wanna Dive. We numbered five divers, a few from our usual group at work, plus Deb and myself. Steve and Cathy run a smaller boat, six divers maximum, providing a more personal experience than the larger operations. Steve does manta dives several times each week and was well able to brief us on what to do and what we might expect to see. Fortunately for us, and unlike some other dive operations, he has a backup plan in case the mantas do not show. He provides us a signal to abandon the manta dive and just explore the reef, making the best of a night dive.

It is everyone's dream encounter with a volcano... To stand in front of an advancing lava flow, seeing the red rock coming at you, close enough to feel the furnace-like heat and appreciate the mesmerizing flow. This was also on my to-do list, one of the things I wanted to see or do in my lifetime. Was on the list, in the past tense.

I had been near lava several times, but no closer than 20-25 meters, amazing to see, but disappointingly short of the experience that could have been. I love visiting the volcano, the volcanic terrain is endlessly fascinating. Pele is never predictable, the volcano is constantly changing. You never know what you will encounter in a visit. Living on the island has given me the opportunity to try several times, it was just a matter of timing and planning to make it happen.

The public viewing site at Kalapana opens each afternoon at 2pm and stays open until 10pm. Workers try to keep visitors safe and well clear of the dangerous conditions that an active flow field can easily create. But they also keep you quite a ways from the flow fronts and breakouts, often degrading the experience. The balance between safety and experience is difficult, understandably the county policy is to err on the side of safety.

For those prepared to take the risks, and those who have more experience with the behavior of lava flows, it is possible to get much closer to the lava.

Keck Observatory Press Release...

Possible new type of supernovae puts calcium in your bones

KAMUELA, HI — New data from several telescopes, including the W. M. Keck Observatory, suggest astronomers may have identified a new type of supernovae. The stellar death is thought to have originated in a star that was a low-mass white dwarf accumulating helium from a companion star. When the white dwarf exploded, about half of the mass ejected from the supernova was in the form of calcium. The finding suggests that a couple of supernovae like this exploding every 100 years would produce the high abundance of calcium observed in galaxies like the Milky Way, and the calcium present in life on Earth.

Part of getting a beautiful underwater photograph is having the right equipment, part is in understanding the challenge of underwater photography and learning to deal with the issues. Emphasis has to be on the second part, knowledge. Expensive equipment is no guarantee of good photographs, and inexpensive equipment can yield good results. I managed quite a few nice photos with a simple point and shoot in an underwater case.

My approach to scuba photography has been a gradual one. Starting with a simple cameras and slowly increasing my skills and the complexity of my gear. The road has also been a long one, littered with hundreds of truly awful pictures.

My current kit is a compromise between capability and cost. Built around a Canon G11, the setup consists of a Canon WP-DC34 underwater case and a Sea&Sea YS-110 strobe. The strobe and flash are mounted with an older model Sea&Sea tray and arm. The camera and case were purchased new, while the strobe and tray are used.