More than a dozen telescopes will scan the night skies above Mauna Kea tonight… as they do each night of the year. Since 1968, the Big Island summit has been a center for astronomical observation. But many Hawai`i residents aren’t familiar with what goes on up there. HPR’s Dave Lawrence recently went to Mauna Kea to see three of those telescope facilities…and today he begins a series of reports with a closer look at NASA’s infrared telescope.

Here are some photos of the trip to NASA IRTF, including my host Daytime Ops Sup. George Koenig and HPR Stargazer Star/Imiloa Astronomy Center's Shawn Laatch (who took me to Mauna Kea summit).

audio file: 

nasa.mp3

George Koenig Complete Interview.mp3