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> Last year, scientists drove up Mauna Loa volcano on Hawai‘i, aimed a laser at a reflector positioned on Haleakala peak on Maui, and beamed rapid pulses of las
by dheera 3y ago
> Last year, scientists drove up Mauna Loa volcano on Hawai‘i, aimed a laser at a reflector positioned on Haleakala peak on Maui, and beamed rapid pulses of laser light through 150 kilometers of turbulent air.
Stupid question ... why would they pick the tops of two volcanoes on two islands instead of two mountain peaks on the continent that have roads between them, overnight shipping for whatever components they may need, easier hiring, and no random lava flows destroying equipment?
- foota 3y agoWhy take a trip to the mountains in Boulder's backyard when you can go to Hawaii? :-) But also, I imagine it has to do with the Mauna Kea Observatory, where half the setup was. I'm not sure if it's for the observatory (e.g., it says they used a light source there, or possibly because they have some scientific equipment set up there already), or maybe because of the environment. This is what wikipedia says about the site "The location is near ideal because of its dark skies from lack of light pollution, good astronomical seeing, low humidity, high elevation of 4,205 meters (13,796 ft), position above most of the water vapor in the atmosphere, clean air, good weather and low latitude location." of course the astronomical parts don't matter, but some of the rest is likely relevant. Also, many mountaintops that high will be covered with snow. Mauna Kea has some, but probably not as much.