Join this experience led by an Analog Astronaut/Astro-Photographer!
Highlights
- Your Photo-Guides will take epic photos of you
- Look at Galaxies, Nebulas and Star clusters through an Astro-Cam.
- Photos from your trip are given complimentary (upgrades are available)
- Only tour company that avoids the bright moon
Location and Time
Mauna Kea State Recreation Area
Entire experience is 2 Hours
15 minutes before your scheduled tour time:
- Check the online calendar for specific start times and prices
- We will stargaze from altitudes below 9k feet on Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa
- Tour companies and private individuals are not permitted to stargaze at the summit. We have our own unique locations that we go to for epic stargazing. The summit is closed 45 minutes after sunset and solely for research and cultural practices
Description
All experiences are led by James, an Analog-Astronaut and Pro Astro-Photographer.
Journey to a remote stargazing location, far from culturally sensitive and touristy locations to truly enjoy the dark skies of Hawaii.
Celestial objects and constellations will be pointed out with a powerful green laser pointer. Hear about James’ time spent as an Analog-Astronaut, ancient Polynesian navigation and more.
View details of deep space using a deep-space camera and telescope. Awe-inspiring views of objects like Galaxies and Nebulas that you didn’t know was possible.
Being a Pro Astro-Photographer on the Big Island, spending 9 years as a guide, James knows the best spots and angles to take a few stellar photos of you with the Milky Way.
All medium resolution photos taken throughout the trip of deep space objects and of your group are included in the price.
This is the only stargazing adventure in Hawaii that doesn’t do stargazing tours when the moon is brighter than 20%. When the moon is brighter than that, the night sky is too bright and the stars are too few to properly enjoy stargazing. All time slots are hand-selected for optimal stargazing views.
Photo upgrades are available
Inclusions
- Comfy Parka Jackets with pockets and a hood
- Complimentary photos available for download within 24 hours after the experience
Exclusions
- Hotel pickup
- Gratuities (optional)
Know Before You Book
- Comfortable pants and walking shoes are highly recommended
- Not typically recommended for children under 5 years old although any ages are welcome
- Since we are able to start later in the evening, we avoid almost all of the other tour companies, giving you a more private and unique experience
- Book your adventure on one of your first nights of your vacation, just in case we have to reschedule later in the week because of high clouds
Common Questions
Q. What ages can join?
A. Since our tours won’t be going to extreme altitudes, any age can join. Our max altitude is around 9k feet. Doctors recommend staying below that altitude to minimize any potential altitude sickness. It is extremely rare that anyone ever feels sick on our tours.
Q. Do you use a telescope?
A. We use telescope as well a deep space star-tracker camera that takes long-exposure, tracked photos of galaxies, star clusters and nebulae.
Q. This tour comes with free photos, right?
A. Yes! Everyone gets a few epic photos of them with the night sky taken complimentary by a professional astro-photographer. This will be part of a “basic” photo package. The photos will be just fine for small prints and social media posts. We will also take photos of galaxies, nebulae and star clusters. Those photos are also included in the price of the tour. Upgrades are available if you’re wanting to have high resolution photos.
Q. What kind of info is shared on the tour?
A. Your guide James will use a high-powered green laser pointer and an iPad to point out constellations, nebulas, star clusters and share interesting facts about the Mauna Kea volcano as well as his time spent as an analog-astronaut and mission control operator for a Mars training base. You’ll peer through a camera/scope and learn about the deep sky space objects that you see.
Q. Why do start times vary between 8pm and sometimes 4am?
A. We never want to do stargazing tours when the moon is brighter than 20%. So we have times throughout the night that can avoid the moon on that particular night.
The core of the Milky Way galaxy is visible in the early mornings of February through May. From June through October, it can be seen in the evenings after sunset.
Q. Does this tour visit the summit?
A. Our tours do not, that area is closed after sunset and only telescope operators are allowed up there. All tour companies and private individuals drive down to lower elevations after sunset and stargaze near the visitors center.
We avoid those crowds and head to another stargazing area.
Q. Do we watch sunset?
A. Our tours start a few hours after sunset to make sure you get the best stargazing experience possible. Feel free to watch the sunset on your own and join us afterwards.
Q. Where do we meetup?
A. On the slopes of Mauna Kea.
Click the Google link below to see the map.
Mauna Kea State Recreation Area https://goo.gl/maps/asXyBB66NnR75TSy7
Q. Can you pick up in town?
A. Not typically. James will get up in the mountains a few hours before your tour start time and check for the best possible location to stargaze from to avoid the clouds. If the clouds don’t seem to disappear in time for your tour, James will let you know 90 minutes before the start time if the tour needs to be cancelled or postponed. That way you don’t have to drive in the mountains and waste valuable vacation time. 🙂
You’ll receive a 100% refund if we need to cancel because of weather.
Most nights the clouds start to clear up after sunset or James will find the best spot to avoid the clouds. It’s difficult to give more than a 90 minute heads up about weather conditions for the spots we go to since the clouds typically start to clear up after sunset. However, the spot we go to has the clearest section of skies on Mauna Kea.
Q. When should we book?
A. Any time slot available through the online calendar will be an epic time to do the tour. The dates and times are hand-selected to avoid the bright moon.
Q. Can we upgrade to the high resolution photos after the tour?
A. Upgrades can be placed before the tour or anytime afterwards. The high-resolution files will be saved, indefinitely.
Q. Will it be cold?
A. In the winter and spring months the temperatures can be around 40°F. In summer and fall months, it can be just over 45°F. That doesn’t sound too bad unless you’re standing outside for over an hour and a half. 🙂 So it’s recommended to dress accordingly. We also have parka jackets that have pockets and a hood to help keep you warmer.
Some brave individuals wear red dresses because they look pretty awesome in photos and they will wear a big coat over the dress during the stargazing portion of the tour to keep warm.
Q. What happens if it’s too cloudy?
A. Here’s the short answer: 100% refund or come back again free.
As discussed in a previous question. James will get up in the mountains a few hours before your tour start time and check for the best possible location to stargaze from to avoid the clouds. If the clouds don’t seem to disappear in time for your tour, James will let you know 90 minutes before the start time if the tour needs to be cancelled or postponed. That way you don’t have to drive in the mountains and waste valuable vacation time. 🙂
You’ll receive a 100% refund if we need to cancel because of weather.
Most nights the clouds start to clear up after sunset or James will find the best spot to avoid the clouds. It’s difficult to give more than a 90 minute heads up about weather conditions for the spots we go to since the clouds typically start to clear up after sunset. However, the spot we go to has the clearest section of skies on Mauna Kea.