Astropedia
Meteors
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Better known as shooting stars, meteors are actually not stars at all, but rather pieces of metallic and/or stony debris entering Earth’s atmosphere and “burning up.” What we see as the “tail” is actually a trail of gas left from the burning object entering our atmosphere. Although hard...read moreAntares
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Called Lehuakona in Hawaiian, Antares is a red super giant located in the constellation of Scorpio. Sometimes called the “heart of the scorpion,” Antares is often confused with Mars because its location and similar appearance. Astronomers have concluded that Antares could meet its end in a...read moreEta Carinae
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
At approximately 10,000 light years away, Eta Carinae has been has been observed for millennia by astronomers around the world, and had proved to be a very unusual star. Eta Carinae is a massive star, thought to be approximately 4 million times brighter than our sun. However, observations have...read moreArcturus and Sirius
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Two other important stars to the early Hawaiians were Arcturus and Sirius. Arcturus, known in Hawaiian as Hokulea, or the “Star of Joy/Happiness” passed over the islands of Hawaii at its zenith. Likewise, Sirius, known as Aa in Hawaiian, passes over Tahiti at its zenith. These stars are used...read morePolaris
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Probably one of the most important stars to celestial navigators in the northern hemisphere, Polaris, commonly known as the North Star, happens to sit above the rotational axis of Earth, and therefore appears to stay in place as all the other stars rotate though the night sky. Called Hokupaa in...read moreMilky Way
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
The Milky Way is probably one of the most amazing and awe inspiring object seen in the night sky, and the view of the Milky Way from the dark skies in Hawaii is unsurpassed. On moonless nights it is actually possible to see the bulge in the center of our galaxy, running through Scorpio and...read moreWhirlpool Galaxy
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Although not quite as large to the naked eye as M31, M51, aka the Whirlpool Galaxy, is still quite a sight. Although much farther away (approximately 31 million light years away from Earth) the Whirlpool Galaxy is still an awesome object in the night sky. Located in the vicinity of Canes Venatici,...read moreAndromeda Galaxy
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
One of the most amazing objects in the night sky would have to be M31, aka the Andromeda Galaxy. At approximately 2.9 million light years away, Andromeda is our closest neighboring galaxy and has been an object of obsession for astronomers for millennia. Because it can be seen with the naked eye,...read moreDouble Cluster
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Located approximately 7,500 light years away in the constellation of Perseus, the Double Cluster is a beautiful pair of relatively young star clusters (approximately 13 million years old!). Believed to be moving though space together, the Double Cluster is just visible with the naked eye, but...read moreM13
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
M13, aka the great globular cluster of Hercules, is a prominent northern hemisphere cluster. Located approximately 25,000 light years away, M13 is composed of several hundred thousand stars and visible to naked eye on moonless nights.Omega Centauri
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Located in the southern skies, Omega Centauri is a brilliant globular cluster that lies approximately 17,000 light years away. The cluster itself is thought to be about 150 light years across, making it the most massive cluster in the Milky Way. It is theorized that this enormous globular cluster...read moreStar Clusters
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Throughout the year multiple star clusters are visible under the skies above Mauna Kea. These beautiful celestial bodies composed of anywhere from one hundred to over one million stars! Found throughout the Milky Way and other galaxies, star clusters form in a number of ways, depending on...read moreLagoon Nebula
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Located approximately 4,000 light years away, in the constellation of Sagittarius, the Lagoon Nebula is a gas cluster that is about 33 light years across. Nearby stars ionize gas particles, and recombining atoms emit light, some of which is visible with the unaided eye on clear dark nights....read moreOrion and M42
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
The constellation of Orion, called Ka Heihei o na keiki in Hawaiian, is arguably one of the most recognizable constellation, world-wide, because it can be seen from both the northern and southern hemisphere. Within the constellation of Orion we find M42, the Orion Nebula which is arguably one...read moreNebulas
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
In the most basic terms a nebula is a giant cloud of “interstellar gas, dust and plasma.” These are then broken down into different types according to size, composition, luminosity, etc. Found through the night skies, some nebula are actually visible to the naked. Some of the notable nebulas...read morePleiades
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Rising in the fall, the Pleiades is a beautiful open star cluster clearly visibly with the naked eye. The ancient Hawaiians referred to the Pleiades as the Makalii or “little eyes.” Sometimes referred to as the Bailer, the rise of the Pleiades has been connected to the start of the Makahiki...read moreCassiopeia
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Cassiopeia is found in the northern hemisphere and known as Iwa Kelii in Hawaiian. This constellation is often recognized as a big “W” is prominent constellation that can be used to locate other object in the night sky, such as Polaris and the Andromeda Galaxy.Southern Cross
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Hawaii is the only place in the 50 states where the Southern Cross, formally known as Crux, is visible in the night sky. This beautiful gem is probably the most famous constellation in the southern hemisphere, and also home to a beautiful star cluster called the “Jewel Box” named for its...read moreUrsa Major
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Ursa Major is a prominent constellation found in the northern hemisphere. Most recognizable is the asterism within the constellation, usually referred to as the Big Dipper. Known as Na Hiku in Hawaiian, this constellation and asterism is of particular interest because it can be used to locate...read moreFour Star Lines of Hawaii
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Hawaiians use many stars and constellations to organize the night skies, and often these constellations were used in unison with early seafaring navigation. Four of the main star lines used are known as Ke Ka O Makalii-the bailer of Makalii, which included the Pleiades, Ka Iwikuamoo-“the...read moreZodiacal Constellations
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
There are 12 large constellations that span the night sky throughout the year between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, known as Zodiacal Constellation, or the signs of the Zodiac. Many of these constellations also share stars with Hawaiian constellations and stories.Constellations
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
People have been looking to the stars in wonder for thousands of year. As impressive a sight as the night sky can be, it can also become quite confusing. People started to see shapes in the star patterns in the sky, and began to give these shapes names, which became known as constellations....read morePlanets
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Thought to be “traveling gods” by the Hawaiians, some of the planets in our solar system are visible to the naked eye. Moving independently through the night skies, the planets of our solar system pass overhead within the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Different planets are visible...read moreMoon
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Although most people have gazed up at the moon at some point in their lives, many have never had the experience of seeing it through a powerful telescope. This enhanced view brings to life the craters and ancient “oceans” of the lunar landscape. Being the only celestial body other than earth...read moreSaturn
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
At nearly 10 times the size of Earth, Saturn comes in as the second largest planet in our solar system, next to Jupiter. Scientists believe the planet to consist mostly of gas, with perhaps a super heated, metallic core. It is surrounded by seven giant rings, mostly made of ice fragments, and is...read moreMars
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Sometimes called the Red Planet, Mars was actually named after war gods in both Greek and Roman Mythology, because of its red or “blood” like appearance. Its color is actually due to high levels of iron in its soil. Being the fourth planet from the sun, it is Earth’s other neighbor, and has...read moreVenus
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Venus is our closest neighboring planet, and almost identical in size to Earth. Often the brightest object in the night sky, Venus is actually surrounded by sulfuric acid, which brilliantly reflects light from the sun. To the naked eye Venus often appears to look like a bright “star” however,...read moreJupiter
Posted: Nov 11, 2010
Coming in at 88,846 miles in diameter, Jupiter is by far the largest planet in our solar system. Being the 5th planet from the sun, and about 1/10 of its size, Jupiter dominates the solar system when it comes to sheer size, and has a volume about 1,000 times that of earth. Jupiter is orbited by...read more
