More than two years after road access and electrical power to the Mauna Loa Observatory was cut off by lava flows, NOAA staff continue to make critical measurements of the atmosphere and other environmental variables at the remote site.
In 2023, observatory staff installed solar panels at the site and resumed some measurements, including the independent carbon dioxide monitoring programs run by the Global Monitoring Laboratory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, as well as other atmospheric measurements.
Construction of a temporary road to access the observatory site is anticipated to begin in summer 2025.
Media can contact: Theo Stein (303) 819-7409 (theo.stein@noaa.gov)
Organization(s):
University of Hawaii - Institute for Astronomy
What does this program measure?
The VYSOS project has two components: (1) to perform a long-term monitoring survey of solar-like young stars at different ages from birth through the planet forming stage to understand for the first time the energetic events that our Sun underwent and which affected the solids that formed the planetary system, including present-day meteorites. (2) the extreme precision demanded by the photometric survey requires a measurement of the atmospheric extinction throughout each night. These nightly extinction coefficients will be made available to atmospheric scientists.
How does this program work?
The VYSOS telescope is a specially designed 16.25 inch Newtonian reflector equipped with a wide angle CCD camera. The telescope and instrument are controlled by a computer in a robotic mode and housed in a dome at the observatory. The dome opens automatically at sunset, and closes before sunrise.
Why is this research important?
As stated above, studying solar-like young stars at different ages will help us understand the energetic events that our Sun underwent, and which affected the solids that formed the planetary system, including present-day meteorites.
Are there any trends in the data?
This project is new.
How does this program fit into the big picture?
What is it's role in global climate change?
See "What" and "Why" sections.
Comments and References
Lead Investigator(s):
Prof. Bo Reipurth
808-932-2314
MLO Contact(s):
Dr. John E. Barnes
808-933-6965 (x222)
Web Site(s)
not applicable
Date Started
2005
Related Programs
not applicable