A Darker View

LCROSS Confirms Water

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0700

The Centaur booster ejecta plume taken 20 seconds after impact

The LCROSS team has announced that they have confirmed water in the ejecta plume thrown up by the October 9th impact. It has taken a month to process the data and rule out any of the other possible sources of the features seen in the spectra. The team is confident that they they have confirmed the presence of hydrogen and hydroxyl molecules (OH-), both of which would be produced by the impact if there was water present in the crater.

Diving the Old Kona Airport

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Olivier Martin headed into the water at the Old Kona Airport

It has been far too long since we were in the water. For over a month the dive gear has sat unused in the garage, an unacceptable situation. This morning we corrected this sad state of affairs.

Joining up with the usual guys from work we headed for the end of the runway at the Old Kona Airport. We were concerned as there was a little surf, but a little cove gave sufficient shelter to make an easy entry and exit. Easy access, parking close to the water, showers, bathrooms and changing areas, the old airport offers a very nice dive site with access to good reef.

With the choppy water we did not want to swim very far on the surface, opting to dive as soon as we were out over the coral. A fairly typical Kona reef greeted us just out from the cove. A wide shallow plain of finger corals and some shelf corals without a lot of terrain. Further north we found a large rubble field, it is clear that this area gets a lot of surf when the swell hits the Kona coast.

Deb busy taking photos of a nudibranch

This excursion featured the first outing of the Canon G11 in the waterproof housing. Upon reviewing the results I was very pleased with the photographic results. The usual fish, with some nice opportunities for photographs. My first good shot of the very common Goldring Surgeonfish, and a pleasing shot of the very shy and very pretty Potter's Angel.

We noted a huge amount of soft waving octocorals in among the other corals, it was everywhere. Will have to ask about this coral when we next meet one of the experts on the Kona reefs. Maybe Thursday evening when the next Reef Talk will be in Waimea.

Nothing spectacular or unusual, just a pleasant dive. Max depth only 55ft and well over an hour under water with 3k air in the tank. We took it easy this dive and did not cover a lot of ground. Preferring to look close and spend a lot of time with our masks close to the coral and fish while we both fired away with the cameras.

There will not be as long an interval between this trip and the next, I have already loaded the tanks in Deb's vehicle and asked that she get them filled soon, so we are ready to go again.

2009 Maunakea Lecture Series

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0700

2009 Maunakea Lecture Series
David James (University of Hawai’i at Hilo Telescope)

November 19, 2009, 7:00pm
W.M. Keck Observatory, Waimea
Hualalai Learning Theater

In celebration of the International Year of Astronomy and commemorating 400 years of the telescope, the 2009 Maunakea Lecture Series will feature the latest in cosmic discovery presented by the Directors of the Observatories atop Mauna Kea.

The talk is titled “Using the New 0.9-meter Hōkū Ke`a UHH Telescope to Promote Hawai‘i-based Undergraduate Leadership in Astronomy (HULA).” Dr. James is the director of the new Hōkū Ke`a telescope and an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. He will present an overview of plans for the new telescope which will be installed on the site of the old UH 0.6-meter observatory on Maunakea. For the first time, UHH physics and astronomy undergraduates will have the opportunity to use the new telescope to conduct dedicated observational astronomy projects.

The 2009 Directors Lecture Series are special presentations to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy in 2009. IYA celebrates the 400th anniversary of Galileo using a telescope to explore the heavens. Galileo’s telescope was the first step to unlocking mysteries of the cosmos. These free lectures give the public a chance to learn about the latest research from the Maunakea observatories here in Hawai‘i. The lectures will be presented in two locations, the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center and the W.M. Keck Observatory Headquarters.

All lectures are free and open to the public, light refreshments are generally served. The lectures will also be presented at the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center. More information at the W.M. Keck Observatory calendar page.

Sunday Comics

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0700

Comic by xkcd licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License

Leonids Reminder

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0700

Remember that the annual Leonid Meteor shower peaks tomorrow tonight! Well... actually early Tuesday morning.

With the peak forecast for 15:10UT (05:10HST) on the17th, both the nights of the 17th and 18th offer good Leonid observing for those of us in Hawaii, with a slight advantage to the morning of the 17th. The Mauna Kea VIS will be open all night on the 17th into the morning of the 18th. There will be no significant Moon out on either night, offering good dark skies!

I have the 17th off from work, and thus will be able to spend all night out observing, maybe a good night of telescopic observation of fall deep sky objects, followed by some meteor watching as the radiant rises later in the night? If everything goes well I plan to setup at the substation site. VIS anyone?

Reef Talk in Waimea

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:00:00 -0700

We have thought about going and doing the black water dives offered by a couple of the dive outfits in Kona. A completely different sort of dive with creatures very alien to what we see on the reefs. Will have to attend the next ReefTalk...

ReefTalk "The Open Ocean Creatures At Night"

Thelma Parker Library, Waimea, Tuesday, November 17, from 6:30 to 8:00pm.

Mr. Matthew D'Avella, noted videographer, shares his adventures with open ocean night diving. He has captured strange and fantastic deep water creatures on HD film for you to enjoy without getting wet and cold!

This ReefTalk will be given in January in Kona for those of you who don't want to make the drive but want to see the show!

Questions, contact the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, Sara Peck 329-2861

Waiting Beside the Road

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0700

The Mamalahoa Highway south of Waimea

A kid standing beside Waikoloa Road with his thumb out. I hit the brakes and swing onto the shoulder a couple hundred feet past him as he runs to catch up. I clear out my junk from the passenger seat as we exchange pleasantries and start down the six miles to Waikoloa. I ask him how long he had been waiting, and the answer surprised me, an hour and a half!

A clean cut kid, lightly built, maybe 15 or 17, dressed in a clean T-Shirt with a backpack. Why did he have to wait so long for a ride? There is only one obvious reason, he was black.

To be sure, I also make that same decision when I see someone standing on the side of the road, do I want to pick up this person? Do they look respectable? Clean? Picking up a hitchhiker is a judgment, you are allowing someone you do not know into your space. This decision may be different for me, I am a large guy, few people intimidate me physically. I am male. Maybe my comfort zone is wider when letting someone into my vehicle.

But an hour and a half? How many cars passed this young man up on a busy afternoon? Not exactly the aloha spirit.

Most of the people I have given rides are just kids, trying to get to work, or get home. A cashier for the supermarket I shop at, a young gal working in a shaved ice shop, a lady who turned out to live on my street who's car was out of action. I will still make that judgment, but I suspect I will often hit the brakes.

The Nikon Coolpix 995 - The Results

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0700

I have put the Nikon 995 away again, replaced by the modern Canon G11. Spending some time using my old Nikon Coolpix 995 has been an interesting experiment. This was the camera I carried day in and day out for several years, carrying it again was a trip through treasured memories. In the process I remembered what I liked about the 995, and what I detested.

The segment crane preparing to lift a segment out of Keck 2

The real results of the experiment must lie with the most telling part of any digital camera, the photographic results. The reviewers of the day rated the photographic quality as excellent. The question is as to whether the standards have changed in the face of modern cameras and eight years of technological progress.
Continue reading "The Nikon Coolpix 995 - The Results"

The First Winter Storm of the Season

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:19:00 -0700

The first winter storm of the season closes in on Keck Observatory

Mauna Kea is again white.

Not that you can see it yet, the mountain is currently wreathed in clouds and darkness. The road to the summit has been closed to vehicles. When it can be seen, the mountain will again display the white mantle for which it is famous. The snow goddess, Poli'ahu, has returned to claimed her home.

There was no snow to be seen at lunchtime, the clouds flirted with the summit. Periodically it was thick fog, a few minutes later you could see the cloud draped shape of Haleakala. It began snowing in the mid-afternoon, for a while it did not stick. Later in the afternoon the weather closed in as if with intent and the snow began in earnest. When we pulled out at 5pm the snow was beginning to accumulate, almost an inch on the ground. The vehicles were well coated as we piled in for the road to warmer weather.

Conditions on the summit access road above 13,000ft

The fog and snow limited visibility to a few yards as we drive through wind driven snow. The road was not too bad, the asphalt retained some of the day's warmth, keeping the wet snow from turning to ice. We knew this would change in a hour or two, time to leave the mountain. Even so, the commercial summit tours were headed up as we headed down. No sunset for their guests tonight, but instead the unique experience of a blizzard in Hawai'i.

As I write I am listening to heavy rain on the roof. Much warmer here at low elevation, as the first real rain in months soaks the ground in Waikoloa.

Dispatch from the Summit

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:22:06 -0700

Just about to pull out from the summit. The ground is now covered with white, maybe a 1/4" accumulation and it continues to snow. It will be a fun drive down Mauna Kea today, will have to keep the camera handy in my pocket.

Poliahu is home again.

Wordless Wednesday - Madagascar Ragwort

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0700

Seedhead from Madagascar Ragwort (Senecio madagascariensis), often called Fireweed here in Hawai'i

Dispatch from the Summit

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:17:15 -0700

Returning summit day crew confirms snow flurries at the summit and heavy rain further down. Though it appeared the snow was not sticking yet. The NWS continues to issue watches for the summit and the Mauna Kea Weather Center agrees, though without the forecast for substantial snow. Given the choice I would go with Mr. Lyman and the MK Weather Center.

We shall see what awaits us come dawn.

New Type of Supernova

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Keck Observatory press release...

Rapid supernova could be new class of exploding star

BERKELEY, CA—An unusual supernova rediscovered in seven-year-old data taken at the W. M. Keck Observatory and Lick Observatory may be the first example of a new type of exploding star, possibly in a binary star system where helium flows from one white dwarf onto another and detonates in a thermonuclear explosion.

In a paper first published online Nov. 5 in Science Express, astronomer Dovi Poznanski, of the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and his colleagues describe supernovae SN 2002bj and review the data that suggest it is a new type of stellar explosion.
Continue reading "New Type of Supernova"

Vaisala RS80 Radiosonde Teardown, Part 1

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0700

The tangled remains of a weather radiosonde as recovered

I never know what I will find when I drive to work. Commuting up a 13,803ft (4207m) volcano is always a great experience, even after three years of doing it. Some of the guys like to sleep in the rear seat, some listen to podcasts as we drive, I like to grab shotgun so I can enjoy the scenery.

But this time the morning supplied something a little different...
Continue reading "Vaisala RS80 Radiosonde Teardown, Part 1"

Hints of Winter

nospam@example.com (Andrew Cooper) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:38:00 -0700

The weather has turned cooler. At lower elevations this has meant that the days are just about perfect, and nights are cool and pleasant on the west side of the island. While at the summit a definite nip is in the air, a chill that was not there a few weeks ago.

I am scheduled to go to the summit Wednesday and Thursday to begin installation of the laser system. A bit of a surprise in the Weather Service RSS feed this afternoon, a winter storm watch for the summit!

A STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL APPROACH THE STATE FROM THE NORTH
LATE TUESDAY NIGHT. THE UPPER LOW WILL BRING MUCH COLDER AIR TO
HIGHER ELEVATIONS...ALONG WITH A CHANCE FOR HEAVY SNOWFALL...
LIGHTNING...STRONG WINDS WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...AND
BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS TO THE SUMMITS OF MAUNA LOA AND MAUNA
KEA. - NWS Hawai'i Forecast and Alerts

An approaching storm? I have obviously not been paying attention to the forecast. I should have guessed, the skies have been unsettled the last few days, heavy clouds against the island, not the usual patterns. Sunset was absolutely spectacular this evening, one large hole in the overcast that turned vivid colors over the ocean.

We shall see what awaits the crew when we head for the summit Wednesday. Possibly a problem, but often an adventure. Just the experience of working on The Mountain.

Fresh snow and ice at 12,000ft (3650m) along the Mauna Kea summit access road looking towards Pu'u Keonehehe'e