Construction of huge telescope in Hawaii to resume after protests, court battles

NBC News ^ | July 11, 2019 | The Associated Press

[Jyotishi]

The Thirty Meter Telescope is being built atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii's tallest mountain

Illustration showing the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island.Thirty Meter Telescope / via AP file

HONOLULU -- Construction on a giant telescope will start again next week after lengthy court battles and passionate protests from those who say building it on Hawaii's tallest mountain will desecrate land sacred to some Native Hawaiians.

State officials announced Wednesday that the road to the top of Mauna Kea mountain on the Big Island will be closed starting Monday as equipment is delivered.

Scientists revere the mountain for its summit above the clouds that provides a clear view of the sky with very little air and light pollution. Astronomers say it will allow them to reach back 13 billion years to answer fundamental questions about the advent of the universe.

The Thirty Meter Telescope project got approval to move forward last month. While it was the final legal step, opponents vowed to keep fighting and even get arrested if necessary to stop construction.

Gov. David Ige said unarmed National Guard units will be used to transport personnel and supplies and enforce some road closures, but they will not be used in a law enforcement capacity during planned protests.

"We just are asking people to be safe ... we certainly would ask that they be respectful of those who have to work on this project," Ige said. "We certainly are being respectful of those who choose to voice their disagreement with the project -- we understand that that's important as well."

Four protesters held signs in the reception area of the governor's office after officials announced construction plans. Protests at the mountain will be peaceful, Healani Sonoda-Pale said.

[Kirkwood]

If a god lives in a dead volcano, maybe the god needs to wake up and settle the matter. Maybe that god actually would be honored to have a telescope on his dead volcano?

[drpix]

Here are some FACTS for anyone interested:

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)

"TMT design operations are based in Pasadena, CA, but the selected telescope site is within the 36-acre “Area E” on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii as shown on the map below. Mauna Kea is a well-established site for observatories due to the high-quality seeing, dry conditions, and typical lack of cloud cover. Once constructed, the TMT complex would consist of a dome 56m in height and 66m wide, 5 acres of roads, and 1.44 acres of buildings."

"Proposed Site for TMT in Area E on the summit of Mauna Kea. For reference, the locations of existing telescopes are indicated by the numbered yellow circles. Map produced by UH and USGS."

In fact, below maps shows the TMT is further from the exact top of the summit than all of the many existing telescopes.

The exact summit is Pu'u Wekiu (Pu 'uwekiu) marked as such in lower right corner of below map

[Beowulf9]

Pele no likey.

[Alas Babylon!]

Yet there are already a bunch of telescopes, some in quite large structures, already on Mauna Kea.

The purpose of the telescope is to advance human understanding and knowledge. Certainly a noble, peaceful goal the “gods” would be proud of, no?

[TheNext]

Too much light pollution, it is better to put the telescope on a barge out to the middle of the ocean.

[Kozak]

No it’s not. It’s like building a telescope in Jerusalem or Rome. No one is building on any sacred structure. Nice try.

[Kozak]

LOL. Yeah. To rock on the swells and look through another 12000 feet of atmosphere saturated with water vapor. Remind me not to consult you when I locate a telescope.

[xp38]

Another favorite spot for seeing is the Atacama desert in Chile. Perhaps the Chilean gods are more accommodating than the Hawaiian ones.

[Brilliant]

“Scientists revere the mountain for its summit above the clouds that provides a clear view of the sky with very little air and light pollution.”

But mostly because they get to go to Hawaii.

[PGR88]

Funny, I hardly heard any protests about the Kawailoa Wind Farm

[bgill]

Sacred land this. Sacred land that. It’s just a telescope, not a big bad evil gun making factory. Bring in a fish taco truck to quiet the natives.

[kaila]

The mountain is sacred to the Hawaiian people. Yes, there are telescopes at Mauna Kea, most built before the Hawaiian cultural renaissance, which was an increasing awareness of Hawaiian cultural identity that occurred in the 70s-80s. Prior to that, being Hawaiian was considered shameful. Now, the Hawaiians are flexing their muscles politically. The telescope IS being built on an area in which they believe their Gods emerged. It is the same as the Dome of the Rock, Wailing Wall and the Vatican to the Hawaiian people. I am part Hawaiian.

[politicianslie]

Astronomers say it will allow them to reach back 13 billion years

What will they say when they can see back more than 14 billion years using this telecscope and the coming James Webb space telescope? They've already used dark energy and dark matter as they tried to band aid their astronomical "theories", will it be dark ether?

[Amberdawn]

Geez, don’t they have enough telescopes already?

[Kozak]

Oh. When do you have a sacrifice to the pagan Hawaiian gods?

[kaila]

No sacrifice. Just oli to the gods and construct ahu for altar.

[Jyotishi]

Sacrifice in many religions including Christianity:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrifice#Human_sacrifice

[Kozak]

LOL. Comparing the crucifixion of Christ with the actual human sacrifice of pagan religions. Nice try.

Can’t wait for the amazing pictures and discoveries that 30 meter telescope will bring.

[Jyotishi]

There’s some information here, which I have bookmarked to read later:

Ritual Human Sacrifice in the Bible

http://www.evilbible.com/evil-bible-home-page/ritual-human-sacrifice/