Mauna Kea Observatories

At Mauna Kea’s summit on Hawaiʻi, a cluster of observatories occupies an astronomy precinct within the Mauna Kea Science Reserve at 4,207 meters, where dark skies, dry air, and frequent clear conditions make it one of the world’s finest ground-based astronomy sites. Modern development began in the 1960s after Gerard Kuiper and University of Hawaiʻi scientists confirmed the summit’s exceptional conditions; construction started in 1967, and many international facilities followed. Research there has contributed to major discoveries, including work tied to the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics. The observatories also stand at the center of ongoing conflicts involving Hawaiian cultural significance, environmental protection, and future development.

Paauilo, Hawaii · United States