A Darker View

Late this evening, around 22:00, Jupiter and the Moon will rise together. About 7° apart, the pair is a good match for brightness. Even a 75% illuminated Moon can not overpower Jupiter shining at -2.7 magnitude.

The pair will be visible the remainder of the night, still high in the western sky come dawn.

Over the next few nights Saturn will pass quite close to Mars. this is just one pairing in the ongoing dance of planets in the evening sky.

Mars and Saturn make particularly good dance partners, fairly evenly matched in brightness, Saturn at 1.0 magnitude and Mars at 1.5 magnitude. The colors are a nice contrast as well, the light butterscotch of Saturn compared to the orange of Mars.

The two will be closest tomorrow, July 30th at a separation of 1°45'. But as these planets are not moving very fast, they will be pretty close from tonight, through the next four nights at under 2° apart.

At the same time Venus is visible shining very brightly at magnitude -4.2, just 8° to the west. Mercury is another 18° west from Venus, close to the horizon as it grows dark.

Over the next few nights Mars and Saturn will pair up for a couple's turn in the midst of the Great Planetary Conjunction of 2010.

Tonight the pair is obvious just 10° above a brilliant Venus. Separated by a little over 2° mars and Saturn will step even closer over the next few nights. From the 28th to the 3rd the separation will be about 2° or less, closest on the 30th at 1°45'.

During these nights Venus will cut into the couple, drawing closer and making a nice trio. From August 4th to the 10th the three will make a striking triangle. This is in preparation for the climax of this summer's great dance on August 12th.

One of the joys of spending an entire night on the summit is witnessing dawn the next day. I have seen a fair number of sunsets and sunrises atop the mountain, but I still pause to enjoy the spectacle. The sight is enough to divert me from thoughts of breakfast and bed, at least for a few moments...

At 3am on a Sunday morning Saddle Road is a lonely place, no traffic. A full Moon lights the saddle and the looming peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, a sublimely beautiful sight with the stars and bright Jupiter overhead. A 2am alarm clock led to an early departure half an hour later. But why? To see the lava of course, not much else would disturb an otherwise quiet Sunday morning. With a house guest in from off island and reports of a very active flow at the end of highway 130, the plan seemed like a good idea until the alarm clock went off.

Reaching the lava was easy, we simply walked out the highway 130 right-of-way to what was left of the Kalapana highway 137 intersection. To get there we crossed lava that was only a few days old, hot underfoot with bright red to be seen in the deeper cracks. The parking area we used on previous visits was still there, but now cutoff by the advancing flows. Just a few feet off the road there were multiple breakouts amongst the burning brush. Our way was lit by the full Moonlight and the glow of a small tree going up in a sheet of flame.

I scouted ahead, checking the route across the flow to the visible breakout, a couple times deciding that one way or another was a bit iffy. The smell of sulfur permeated the air along with the smell of woodsmoke from the burning brush. The gals were very nervous crossing the hot flows, expressing their concerns. All of that disappeared when we came face to face with the flowing lava. It became worth the risks and the 2am wake-up as wonder overcame the fear.

The lava was on a small rise, filling a good sized depression in the week old flow we stood atop. As it crested the edge we watched it spill over a small slope creating small rivers of gold and orange. Fifty meters to the west another tongue burned through light brush outlined with small flames. For two hours we moved back and forth along the face of the breakouts, shooting stills and video. As memory filled we handed cards back and forth to keep the cameras going. The brightening dawn created constantly changing light conditions, while the lava activity stopped and started at the breakout, offering new things to photograph every few moments.

The flow is advancing towards the east. Talking to Bryan Lowry of Lavapix.com we learned that a house burned just a few hours earlier as the lava finally reached it. The smoke of burning trees and brush could be seen all along. Behind the group of homes in Kalapana Gardens as tongues of pahoehoe moved closer to other structures.

In the bright morning light we headed back to the vehicle, sticky and sweaty despite a cool, brisk sea breeze. Curiosity satisfied and memory cards full, a short drive to Hilo and a hearty breakfast was now a more pressing plan.

We have been getting a fair number of dives in lately, it was just two weeks ago we last went diving. With conditions nearly perfect, it is hard not to go. This Saturday was much the same, arriving at Puakō early, about 7am, to join our usual crew for yet another weekend dive. Conditions were flat and the water was clear, a beautiful morning to get in the water.

Deb has a close friend in from the mainland for a couple weeks, what else but to head for the water on her first full day on-island. She snorkeled while we headed out for the dive. A long one, with almost 90 minutes of bottom time, staying shallow and working the walls and caves at the first dropoff.

As usual I spent much of the dive in close and low, checking caves and crevices for the little stuff. Deb orbited around me, a little higher and enjoying the larger reef life that was so abundant. Both techniques work, as we signaled to each other with new finds, an octopus, coral shrimp, odd species of fish. I found at least five species of moray eels on this dive, getting decent photos of four, Yellow Margin, Whitemouth, Dwarf, and Snowflake.

The find of the day was a new species of nudi for me, a red dorid found in a ledge on a cave wall. Good photos to "bag" this one. There were Barber Pole Shrimp in just about every cave and crevice I checked, they were everywhere! Just a lot of decent photo opportunities, but only a couple really good photos.

After the dive we headed to Kawaihae, for a quick rinse and lunch at the Seafood Bar and Grill. Just another day living in paradise.

The last month has seen pleasant conditions at Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station evening stargazing program. Warm temperatures, little or no wind, and clear skies overhead, ideal for discovering the universe.

With a late sunset there is a wait for the sky to grow dark. It has become my habit to run a question and answer period in the small theater to pass the time before dark. The audience is often a little reticent at first, but after a couple questions there are more hands in the air than I have time, questions and answers flow as everyone begins to learn a little.

Anything astronomical goes, I can address questions about the mountain, the observatories and the science. Most of the time I have answers at the ready, but I have found I need to do more reading on dark matter and dark energy. I have no trouble admitting I just do not know sometimes, indeed the audience seems to find it reassuring that I don't know everything. Even the science of astronomy has had to admit this often enough. Instead I remind them that the telescopes on the mountain still have much to do.

I particularly like cultural questions, inquires about the controversies surrounding use of the summit. I get to address these issues directly. There are valid issues here, with several sides of the story, each of which I try to address fairly even while clearly declaring my bias. The evidence in living culture and on the ground unambiguously demonstrates the sacred nature of the summit. Parts of the community believe the summit should be pristine and the telescopes removed. To me the observatories represent the highest expression of humanity's desire to learn and explore, a fitting use for a special place.

Warm summer weather means that the crowd does not disappear as fast. In the winter is was normal for everyone to have left by 8 or 9pm, leaving those of us who have dressed for the cold. In the summer, with a later sunset and clement conditions at 9,200ft, it is normal for us to have to give a last call and shut-down with a decent crowd around the 'scopes. The long evening gives more time for exchanges with guests, a chance for one-on-one learning while we hop from target to target.

Given time I love to tell a story at the scope... A stop by a nebula where stars are forming, an open cluster of young stars, an old red Giant like Antares or Arcturus. A final stop at a planetary nebula or supernova remnant brings the cycle to a close as the star dies and returns mass to the interstellar medium.

The Milky Way high overhead allows the discussion to shift to galaxies. A few featured in the eyepiece, M51 with it's spiral arms, NGC4565 showing what a spiral looks like seen from the side. Then turn and look up without the telescope, using the laser to point out the bulge and dust lanes of the Milky Way. If I do it right I am rewarded by a moment of revelation as my guest realizes what they are seeing overhead. They look up with a new appreciation for the beauty of the night sky.

One little personal discovery, that is my goal. To see wonder appear for a moment in the expression of someone I have never before met, and will probably never see again. One discovery and my evening is complete.

You may remember a photo of M22 featured on DV a few days ago. That image was taken with a CCD camera, the image featured today was taken with the Canon 20Da DSLR camera at the same time. While the CCD is much more sensitive to light, allowing shorter images, it is essentially a monochrome device. The DSLR requires much more exposure time, but the results are quite pleasing...

The book states that this is a very common moray in reef shallows throughout Hawai'i. But this is my first sighting, maybe because we do not have a lot of shallows on our Big Island reefs?

W. M. Keck Position Announcement...

ELECTRONICS ENGINEER - TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

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 is seeking an Electronics Engineer to develop new observatory capabilities and for upgrades to existing observatory infrastructure. Ideal candidate should be a motivated self-starter who can manage multiple projects and priorities within a fast paced environment.

Qualifications include a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, sound electronics engineering, design and documentation skills, demonstrated ability to plan and manage electronics and electro-mechanical systems projects, experience in troubleshooting of electronics and electromechanical systems, strong understanding of analog and digital electronics, noise, shielding and grounding principles, techniques for mitigating EMI/RFI and data communications, design capabilities in motion control, computer interface electronics and real-time control systems. Project management, document control, and knowledge of electronics and electrical engineering standards are highly desirable.

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 resume, professional references, and salary history to: TSD Electronics Engineer at employment@keck.hawaii.edu. For additional information, please visit our web site at www.keckobservatory.org. EEO/M/F/D/V

I had the photos, but this is one I had to see for myself. On the way down the mountain I stopped and walked out the the remains of the truck. The vehicle is still sitting there, indeed will be there for a while as there is no way they are getting it out short of a helicopter.

Looking at the wreck in person I find that the descriptions I received fall short of reality. This was a very violent event, something worthy of a Hollywood special effect department (except maybe in that the vehicle did not explode). Exploring the scene I could only look in complete amazement at the situation. How could it have possibly come to rest where it was?

The remains of the vehicle are scattered across a wide area, with crushed trees and large gouges in the soil testifying to the last moments of a three ton vehicle. Those I talked to indicated that the vehicle was airborne for a some distance, that was an understatement! It is clear that the truck hit the embankment on the outside of the curve, perhaps in an attempt to ditch the truck and stop it. Instead of stopping, the embankment acted as a ramp, and the truck flew for at least 40m (40yrds). Clearing a rock pile and much of a small, rocky gulch. The crater where the truck hit, nose first, is amazing. The truck them rolled, crushing numerous live and dead mamanes, up out of a 10m (30ft) deep gulch, over a small knoll, coming to rest on the other side.

It is astounding that the occupants survived. A true testimony to the engineers who designed this truck. The passenger compartment is intact, indeed the interior appears almost untouched while the rest of the vehicle is totally destroyed.

My respect for the paramedics who transported the injured out of the wreck! It was tough just walking to the wreck, more like hopping from boulder to boulder up the knoll. The rescue crew had to carry three people out through that terrain, the top of an old a'a lava flow. Impressive.

No word in the local papers on the accident, no information on how the injured have fared. I hope they are going to be alright. But after looking at the accident scene, simply put, they got lucky!