Measurements at the Mauna Loa Observatory stopped after the 2022 eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano, when lava flow crossed the access road and took out power lines to the facility. The observatory remains inaccessible by vehicle and without power from the local utility company.
Observatory staff has established limited solar power in four observatory buildings and restored approximately 33 percent of the measurements onsite, including the Global Monitoring Laboratory and Scripps critical CO2 records and other atmospheric measurements.
Media can contact: Theo Stein (303) 819-7409 (theo.stein@noaa.gov) or Karin Vergoth 303-632-6413 (karin.vergoth@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