Observatory on Mauna Kea

We were later than we intended reaching the top of the 13,796-foot summit of the world's tallest mountain (from base to summit it is over 33,000 feet, the first 20,000 feet are under water). The view far surpassed our expectations. When we arrived the summit was lined with observatories owned by universities and various nations, and photographers. The first surprise was the gusty wind. I had read that the summit is covered with snow much of the year, but we could see the summit from the plane as we flew into Hilo and there was no snow. But the temperature was frigid. Nonetheless, Mauna Kea is an astronomer's paradise--the only place in the world where you can see 100% of the northern hemisphere sky and 90% of the southern hemisphere sky (according to the guide at the base camp about 3000 feet below). We arrived just in time for me to get several pictures before the sun slipped below the clouds. Then I turned and got this wonderful reflection off the observatory at the very top of the summit. But the most amazing views were after sunset. The sky lit up like fireflies--stars above us and below us since we are actually looking down from the summit to the horizon. It almost felt like we were floating in space.