NHK Television Project

During the summer and fall of 1995, Shigemi and JPL worked with a documentary television crew from NHK, Japan's public television network, on a film about the observatories at the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. In June we made a preliminary trip to Mauna Kea to scout the location. We are posting some pictures from Shigemi's trip, taken by our friend Hiro Amano.

Mauna Kea

This is Mauna Kea at dusk, as seen from Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii.





The Summit

At the top, nearly 13,800 feet above sea level, there are 6 optical and infrared telescopes and 2 radio telescopes on-line. Three more big telescopes will be built before the turn of the century!




Keck Observatory

Right now, Keck's first telescope is the largest in the world, with a mirror 10 meters wide. Its twin, Keck II, will be operational next year.




NHK Crew

We're way above most clouds, and the stars hardly flicker up here. The conditions for observing the sky are nearly perfect. Unless there are high winds, we'll be cold but really happy...Well, until altitude sickness gets us down.







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