Hotspots >

Mauna Kea Observatories

The 13,796 ft summit of Mauna Kea hosts the world’s largest astronomical observatory with 13 working telescopes operated by astronomers from eleven countries. A visit to the summit requires a four wheel drive vehicle, but the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy at 9000-foot is accessible by two wheel drive and offers quality portable telescopes that visitors can use to view sunspots and stellar spectra during the day and a spectacular display of stars, planets and constellations at night. The visitor center organizes Summit Tours on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 pm and stargazing program every night from 6:00 to 10:00 pm. If visitors have a four wheel drive vehicle or are on a commercial tour, they can also drive to the 14,000-foot summit of Mauna Kea to view the domes of the observatory and magnificent views of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and the Big  Island.

Image Credit: Dome of CFHT telescope, Mauna Kea, at sunset by David Nunuk (Science Photo Library)