VISITING THE SUBARU TELESCOPE
Tour program not available in July, August, and September 2010 due to the heavy maintenance and upgrade work at the telescope site.
What will the Tours be like?
- The tour of the Subaru Telescope allows visitors to see one of the worlds's most powerful astronomical telescopes upclose and in person.
- Our summit guide will meet visitors with reservations outside the telescope enclosure (i.e. the dome) at a pre-appointed time and will escort the visitors inside the enclosure.
- The tour will last approximately 40 minutes in length. Visitors will be able to see the telescope and the primary mirror recoating facilities.
- Photographs are welcome, however sometimes flash photos are not allowed due to telescope operations
- Tours are offered up to 15 days a month. On each day that we offer tours, tours begin at 10:30AM, 11:30AM, and 1:30PM.
- Tours will be either in Japanese or English.
- One week advance reservations are necessary (and must be made) through this webpage.
The Tour
1. Get to Mauna Kea.
Transportation to the summit of Mauna Kea is the responsibility of the visitor. A four wheel drive vehicle is required. The drive from Hilo or Kona to the Mauna Kea summit area takes approximately 3 hours, depending on the weather and traffic. This includes a one hour rest at the Onizuka Visitor Information Station at the 9000 ft (2800 m) level of Mauna Kea to acclimatize to the high altitude.
2. Meet at Subaru Telescope.
There is a designated visitor parking area at the foot of the telescope enclosure. Subaru's summit guide will greet visitors at the door on the side of the enclosure a few minutes before the time of the tour. There are no rest rooms along the tour route so make sure you use the restroom before you arrive at Subaru.
3. Subaru's summit guide will lead visitors through the enclosure for a tour last in approximately 40 minutes.
Before the tour, all visitors must sign a liability waiver form. Minors need parent's or legal guardian's signature as well. The telescope enclosure is not a building for humans, but a giant scientific instrument! The tour route includes two elevator and narrow corridors. All participants will wear hard hats for the entire duration of the tour.
4. View the Subaru Telescope from a balcony.
The balcony is 40 feet (12 meters) high. Try not to drop anything! Visitors will return along the same route and will be able to see the primary mirror recoating facilities at the end of the tour.
What's the catch?
The scope of our tour is limited due to concerns about visitor safety, telescope operations by the need to respect rules, and regulations are put in place to protect Mauna Kea and its people.
- The high altitude of the summit area of Mauna Kea presents a substantial health hazard to visitors. Tours NOT be open to people younger than sixteen, people with health concerns that may make them susceptible to high altitude sickness, and people who are pregnant. Please read the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's information bulletins on Mauna Kea health hazards for more information about the risks associated with traveling to high altitude. We ask you to obtain sufficient health insurance to cover any medical costs you may incur due to illness or injury during your visit to Mauna Kea. Please read this message from Ranger Kimo Pihara about Mauna Kea protocol.
- Due to the sacredness of Mauna Kea, Subaru asks that all visitors treat the mountain with dignity and respect adn act accordingly.The summit environment is a sensituve one and appropriate behavior is expected.
- Transportation to the summit is the responsibility of the visitor. Please be aware that the choices of transportation to the summit of Mauna Kea are extremely limited and four wheel dirve is required. Transportation from Hilo or Kona to the Mauna Kea summit area takes approximately 3 hours depending on weather conditions, including the time required to acclimatize to high altitude.
- Tours for visitors arriving with their own transportation are limited to 8 visitors per tour. This number limit is set by how many people our summit guide can safely usher through the enclosure. Tours of visitors arriving with licensed local tour operators are limited to 14 visitors provided that the tour van driver assists our summit guide in giving the tour.
- In order to make sure that we have sufficient staff at the summit to handle unexpected situations, tours are limited to weekdays only.
- Visitors will not be able to look through the telescope, because our telsescope does not have an eyepiece. The surface of the primary mirror is not visible because it is covered to prevent dust accumulation. The summit guide does not present information on Subaru's latest scientific results, however the font page of our website has the latest information.
- Before joining the Subaru tour, please read the Procedures and Guidelines for Subaru Telescope Summit Facility Tours.
Medical Alert
The summit of Mauna Kea has an elevation of 13796 ft (4205 m). The air pressure in the summit region is less than 60% of that at sea level, and the body must work harder to obtain oxygen. Altitude sickness is a risk for all visitors. All visitors should expect a reduction in both their physical and mental capabilities. The stress caused by the high altitude environment can also worsen any existing health problems.
Dryness, cold, and increased UV radiation also contribute to physical discomfort at high altitude.
Before deciding to bisit Muna Kea, please review University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's information bulletins on Mauna Kea health hazards to familiarize yourself with the dangers of high altitude and how to maximize your safety and comfort while on the mountain.
How can I sign up?
- You may sign up for a tour on our web site as soon as the tour schedule becomes available.
- The tour schedule for a particular month will be posted on the web three months in advance. For example, the schedule for December becomes available September 1, 12 Midnight, HST. (HST, Hawaii Standard Time, is 10 hours before Greenwich Mean Time)
- Sign up at least one week in advance. Sign up is on a first come first serve basis.
- To sign up, please visit our tour calendar web page. Details of the sign up process are described on the bottom of the tour calendar page. The basic steps are:
- Check the tour calendar for dates and times of tours.
- Click on the tour of your choice.
- Agree to the basic conditions of the tour.
- Enter information about you and your group.
- Confirm the details of your reservation.
More Questions?
If you have further questions about the tours, please call us.
- Phone: +1-808-934-5056
- Hours: Mon – Fri, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Hawaii Standard Time (GMT – 10hrs)
- You may also contact us from our inquiry form.
This number is for inquiries only. At the moment we do not accept reservations by phone. To make a reservation please go to our sign up page.
Visiting the summit area of Mauna Kea
The summit area of Mauna Kea is open to the public during day light hours. For more information on Mauna Kea and the facilities on Mauna Kea, please visit the web site of the Onizuka Visitor Information Station.
