Mauna Kea Summit - Hawaii by Bradford Griswold

This is a 360° panorama composed of 901 21.2 megapixel images from the summit of Mauna Kea. Translated from Hawaiian, Mauna Kea means "White Mountain". Although this was taken in early December 2010, there had yet been any significant accumulation of snow. At it's summit, the air is 40% less dense that at sea level. Coupled with cold relatively stable air, low light and air polution and favorable weather patterns, Mauna Kea is one of the best places for ground based astronomical observations on the planet. From left to right are the UH Hilo Educational Telescope, Subaru Telescope (behind the ridge), UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT), WM Keck Observatory (just peaking over the ridge to the right of UKIRT), University of Hawaii 2.2m Telescope, Gemini Northern Telescope and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). The visible seam is caused by the change in sun position/shadows over the course this Gigapan was taken.