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Gord
sage
Reged: 01/06/04
Posts: 497
Loc: Toronto, ON, Canada
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Hello stargazers,
I'm posting a similar request on the deepsky forum in case there are people who don't frequent the bino one...
I'm going on a vacation away from the cold of this Canadian winter to Hawaii, and I am wondering if I can hear some recommendations on what to see (astronomically primarily, but other stuff is cool to  ).
I'm bringing either my Nikon 10x50's, or hopefully my Burgess 15x70 (if they are fixed by then). Since Hawaii is far further south, I figure there is likely lots of cool things to see that I couldn't normally from this (45 N) latitude.
What good binocular sights are there to see from 20 deg N lat, specifically to the south? I fired up Starry Night Pro, and it appears I should be able to see Omega Centauri, and lots of other clusters in and around Crux. Keyhole nebula?
I'm also planning to see Mauna Kea and hopefully the observatories there. Any tips or other recommendations?
Thanks in advance!
-Gord
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* Celestron C10/Normand Fullum primary
* Tasco 11TR/Normand Fullum primary
* Orion StarBlast
* Orion Apex 102
* SkyWatcher 80ED
* Celestron CG5a mount
* MallinCam Pro & Color II
* Lots of other astro toys
...and the best wife I could ever dream of for letting it all happen! 
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Diego
super member
Reged: 07/29/03
Posts: 179
Loc: Argentina South America
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Hi Gord,
I would definately try to take the 15x70. There are lots of DSO to view in the Southern Hemisphere. Omega Centauri is the biggest and brightest GC you can ever view. It is a naked eye object from my home in Argentina. There's an OC slightly south of the Crux, called the Jewel Box.
You will probably get blown away by the Keyhole Nebula, it is huge and also a naked eye object. This nebula also contains a variable star i.e Eta Carina.
There are also tons of beatiful OC clusters all the way from Crux to Vela. Don't forget the Coalsack in Mosca (Fly), dark nebula.
Happy Viewing
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Diego
Celestron 80 mm f11.4
Oberwerk 20x90
6" f7.8 Reflector
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Gord
sage
Reged: 01/06/04
Posts: 497
Loc: Toronto, ON, Canada
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Thanks Diego! I'm hoping the 15x70's will be ready, but...
Is it possible to see the Magellanic clouds from this far north?
-Gord
--------------------
* Celestron C10/Normand Fullum primary
* Tasco 11TR/Normand Fullum primary
* Orion StarBlast
* Orion Apex 102
* SkyWatcher 80ED
* Celestron CG5a mount
* MallinCam Pro & Color II
* Lots of other astro toys
...and the best wife I could ever dream of for letting it all happen!
--------------------
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Diego
super member
Reged: 07/29/03
Posts: 179
Loc: Argentina South America
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I'm not really sure about the LMC & SMC from Hawaii. There's a cool GC (47 Tuc), very close to the SMC in the constellation Tucana.
Try using S&T interactive skychart, you dial in the city's name and it will show you that part of the sky.
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Diego
Celestron 80 mm f11.4
Oberwerk 20x90
6" f7.8 Reflector
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rboe
Numbfinger
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 39767
Loc: Phx, AZ
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You need to rent a 4 wheel drive to take the quided tour of the observatories if you use their tour people (and I think you will). Bring your warm clothes! You will need them. You have to leave the top at sunset but you can spend considerable time at the visitors center afterwords; at 9700 feet. They have an Astro-Physics, a C11, a Meade something - about four or five scopes to share. Very nice view of Jupiter while I was there.
If you stay near the the shore the altitude will get you. I would recommend staying the night before in Wiamea. 23.7K is not all that high, but if your body is used to sea level that is a huge delta h to overcome.
It will a take a full day of driving and looking so leave time for it.
Some of your best underwater views of fishes, so go snorkeling, take your underwater camera: on the kona side. A must do. Tropical garden park north of Hilo, another must see. On the south side, you can walk up to fresh lava. It's really odd to walk up to a burnt out speed limit sign, look down on it and the lava is still VERY warm. Then as the sun sets these glow spots start to show up all over.
A word on sunsets. Unlike your home town, that sucker sinks faster than a lunker taking a bobber. Watch for the green flash, it's not everytime but just too cool when you do see it.
Whales. Lot's of whales but it's spotty. They had tons very close to our hotel - and we were on top of Mauna Kea. Sea Turtles! We got to swim with sea turtles. Too cool!
I whimped out and got a wet suit. Got tired of the coral cutting my knees and the cold spring water in the lagoons. I was able to stay out a lot longer than my wife with the suit on.
Snorkle Bob's is the place to rent fins, mask and snorkle.
PM me for more details if I have not bored you to death! You are going to have some fun!
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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Gord
sage
Reged: 01/06/04
Posts: 497
Loc: Toronto, ON, Canada
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Thanks everyone for the help!
Diego, yeah I'm gonna use SNP to make some maps of stuff to see from that latitude. It appears a lot of the good stuff will be "up" in the middle of the night. Have to see how much of that I can swing by the wife and still balance all the stuff to do during the day. 
rboe,
Thanks for the great summary of stuff to see and do. This is more of the stuff I want to do on vacation for a change, rather than a lot of the more mainstream things on the other islands.
I had already read about needing a 4wd, so we went and booked an SUV. However, since then we found out that the rental co's won't let you take rentals onto Saddle road. They say that if they see evidence of you doing this (ie. dirt on the tires), you have to pay for all repairs/wear and tear, and the insurance waiver doesn't cover!  Well I guess there is no point in gettin an SUV then...
So how bad is Saddle rd and then the climb to the summit? Saddle is paved all the way to the visitor center I understand, and pictures I've seen show only a normal gravel road going up to the top. It sure doesn't look like the Baja 500 or the Dakar rally or anything. I've driven more "off-road" in an old diesel Rabbit than that!
Are there places to rent a 4wd that's allowed to go up? I also looked at tours (right from Kona or Hilo), but the only thing I don't like is that you are stuck to thier schedual. I'm not sure if they would allow enough time to be spent observing in the evening at the visitor center.
How is safety around the hotels/resorts generally? I was wanting to do some observing from near the hotel (maybe on the beach or something) on nights other than when we go up to see Mauna Kea.
Yep, lots of cool things to see!
Thanks,
-Gord
--------------------
* Celestron C10/Normand Fullum primary
* Tasco 11TR/Normand Fullum primary
* Orion StarBlast
* Orion Apex 102
* SkyWatcher 80ED
* Celestron CG5a mount
* MallinCam Pro & Color II
* Lots of other astro toys
...and the best wife I could ever dream of for letting it all happen!
--------------------
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rboe
Numbfinger
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 39767
Loc: Phx, AZ
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The road from the visiters center, while not paved for a good part of it, is in better shape than the saddle road from Hilo to Wiamea (sp?), and I've only been on the northern half. Lot's of patches, narrow and tummy ticklers. Some cows, and an Army practice range so you'll probably see tanks, helicopters, hummers and what-not.
The the road up could be handled by a little old lady in a 1965 Suzuki. On the way down it's a different matter, 4L being needed to keep the brakes cool.
There are rental agencies that specialize in trunk rentals for that trip you may want to look into. We rented an Explorer (surprisingly good milage and a very nice rental car/truck) and told them what we would be using it for. They frowned on it, but I was up front. Drive like you are borrowing it and you'll be fine. But you will be a lot safer with 4L on the way down. Just to keep the speed down.
Let me know where you are staying and I can provide more tips if you want.
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Not much to add to what rboe wrote, but I just wanted to share some photos I took when I was at Mauna Kea:
http://solarwww.mtk.nao.ac.jp/kobayash/personal/photos/maunakea/index.html
We were lucky enough to see a snow-covered summit, which I understand is very rare. Locals were filling up their pickup trucks with snow to carry back to town. 
You can look at the observatory domes but unless you've got connections, don't expect to be let inside to look at the telescopes. I was with a group from an astronomy conference and we were supposed to have connections, and we still didn't get to see Keck. (We did see the Subaru telescope.)
Definitely go snorkeling. That was the highlight of my trip. Important tip - apply sunscreen to every square inch of your back. I got sunburn blisters in the tiny spot I missed. That's what I get for sneaking out of the conference alone to go snorkeling.
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