Outside the UKIRT ( U.K. Infrared Telescope ) The camera mounted on the wall over my Dad's left shoulder snaps a pic of the door and the view over Mauna Kea every 5 mins and posts it on the Web, you can see the view from that camera here. Yep, I'm the one without a jacket

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UKIRT

In the center of the picture, and slightly to the lower left, is the main 3.8 metre mirror of the UKIRT telescope. The circular region in the center is where the image passes through after reflecting a second time off the smaller mirror in the previous picture.

3.8 metre mirror of the UKIRT

Sunset

Now that it's after sunset, the domes for the telescopes were opening as the astronomers started their work day. This is a view from the UKIRT, looking out past the small secondary mirror through the opening in the dome towards the night sky.

UKIRT telescope.

Control Room of the UKIRT

Now that the sun has set, the astronomers, engineers, and telescope operators have started work. Tom's slot for observation didn't start until midnight, so he's still hosting us and trying to explain what's going on.