Does seismic activity on Mauna Kea effect the operation of the telescopes there?

Asked by: Captain Darryl Welch

Answer

Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano. Seismic activity is much less of a concern than wind.

The summit of Mauna Kea is home to a dozen or so world-class observatories. The largest, and most well-known is the Keck Observatory.

According to their official website:

'On the telescope, each segment's figure is kept stable by a system of extremely stable support structures and adjustable warping harnesses. During observing, a computer-controlled system of sensors and actuators (or precision pistons) adjusts the position of each segment - relative to its neighbors - to an accuracy of four nanometers, or 1,000 times thinner than a human hair.'

You can learn more about the W.M. Keck Observatory here: http://www2.keck.hawaii.edu:3636/
Answered by: Charles Hill, Network Engineer, Deltona, FL