Maunakea Observatories

Maunakea Observatories

Alternative names	MKO
Observatory code	568
Location	Hawaiʻi County, Hawaii
Coordinates	19°49′20″N 155°28′30″W
Altitude	4,205 m (13,796 ft)
Established	1956
Website	www.maunakeaobservatories.org
Telescopes
CSO (closed 2015) 10.4 m submillimeter CFHT 3.58 m visible/infrared Gemini North 8.1 m visible/infrared IRTF 3.0 m infrared JCMT 15 m submillimeter Subaru Telescope 8.2 m visible/infrared SMA 8×6 m arrayed radio telescopes UKIRT 3.8 m infrared VLBA receiver 25 m radio telescope Keck Observatory 2×10 m visible/infrared telescopes UH88 2.2 m visible/infrared UH Hilo Hoku Ke'a Telescope 0.9 m visible
Maunakea Observatories Location within Hawaii
Related media on Commons

The Maunakea Observatories (MKO, also known as Mauna Kea Observatories) are a group of independent astronomical research facilities and large telescope observatories that are located at the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaiʻi, United States. The facilities are located in a 525-acre (212 ha) special land use zone known as the "Astronomy Precinct", which is located within the 11,228-acre (4,544 ha) Mauna Kea Science Reserve. The Astronomy Precinct was established in 1967 and is located on land protected by the Historical Preservation Act for its significance to Hawaiian culture. The presence and continued construction of telescopes is highly controversial due to Mauna Kea's centrality in native Hawaiian religion and culture, as well as for a variety of environmental reasons.

The location is nearly ideal because of its dark skies from lack of light pollution, good astronomical seeing due to low atmospheric turbulence, low humidity, high elevation of 4,207 m (13,802 ft), position above most of the water vapor in the atmosphere, clean air, low cloud cover and low latitude location.