Hawaiian reefs are well studied, so much so that identification of what I find is often fairly easy. Various resources from popular guide books to professional papers list most of the species one is likely to encounter. There are also severalexcellentonlinereferences that I make regular use of.
There will be situations when identification is not quite so easy… There are critters that are difficult to identify from a simple photograph. Such is the case with this small group of cnidarians I found in a crevice. They caught my eye enough that I took the photo, but proved a bit more difficult when I hit the books. The best I can guess at is the family Protopalythoa, among the zoanthids. I have no need to collect a specimen and find an expert, thus these will most likely remain unidentified…
Most likely a member of the zonanthid family Protopalythoa, just a handful of animals in a reef crevice at Puako
Tomorrow morning, July 8th, Venus will pass less than 1° from Aldebaran. The Eye of the Bull may be one of the brightest stars in the sky at 0.9 magnitude, but it is no match for Venus at -4.4 magnitude.
On the morning of the 8th the planet will be 59′ from the star, just an iota under 1°. On the morning of the 9th the distance will be slightly closer at 55′. The pair will rise about 03:18, to be well up in the sky before sunrise.
Today the Earth is furthest from the Sun, a point called apehelion. We will be about 152,098,232km (94,509,459miles) from the Sun. Compare this to the 147,098,290km (91,402,639miles) we were at perihelion on Jan 4th, a difference of about 5,411,169km (3,362,344miles) occurs throughout one orbit.
It may seem odd that we are actually at the furthest for the middle of northern summer, you just have to remember that proximity to the Sun is not the cause of the seasons. The seasons are caused by the axial tilt of the Earth, creating short and long days throughout the year, with a resulting change in the angle and intensity of the sunlight.
The W.M. Keck Observatory operates two of the world’s largest and most scientifically productive optical/infrared telescopes located on the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. A highly capable and motivated staff operates, maintains and develops the complex telescope systems and infrastructure on the summit. We seek an Infrastructure Technician-Electrician to join this high-caliber team.
Utilizing the Keck 1 Laser Guide Star during the nightThis position is primarily responsible for industrial electrical work including installation, modification, repairs and maintenance of electrical systems and equipment up to 480V to ensure they are in good operating condition, safe and conform to the applicable version of the National Electric Code. The work is primarily at the observatory facility on the summit of Mauna Kea with occasional work at the headquarters facility in Waimea. Minimum requirements are 10 years of experience as an industrial electrician and a valid Journey Worker Industrial Electrician License in the State of Hawaii.
Commitment to WMKO’s core values, working well with others, and the ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities within a fast paced environment are all essential. For a full listing of duties and qualifications for this position, please go to: www.keckobservatory.org/about/employment
The W. M. Keck Observatory (WMKO) has an immediate opening for a software engineer to support scientific programming needs for the Keck Observatory Archive (KOA). The successful candidate will work with the Keck Archive Scientist and other members of the KOA team and software group on all aspects of KOA software development: defining requirements, developing algorithms, writing applications, testing and implementing software, preparing documentation, and supporting software and users. Special attention will be paid to applicants with strong skills and experience in astronomical data reduction, especially spectroscopy.
Servers of the K2 Computer Room at nightThe observatory operates two of the largest and most scientifically productive optical/infrared telescopes in the world. The twin 10-meter telescopes are located amidst several other world class observatories on the summit of Mauna Kea, at 13,796 feet above sea level on the Big Island of Hawaii, one of the premier sites for astronomy. The successful candidate will join a skilled and deeply committed team of technical professionals who enable exciting and important astronomical discoveries.
Minimum qualifications for this position include a Bachelor’s degree in computer or physical sciences, or engineering, and at least 5 years of programming experience. Required are a good knowledge of database design, a high level of competency in SQL, PHP, C and C++ or JAVA programming; good knowledge of IDL, IRAF, Matlab or Python; experience in a Unix environment, experience developing web enabled database applications, good communication skills, good applied mathematical/statistical skills and the ability to work as part of a team. Desirable skills include an advanced degree, knowledge of astronomical data archive, familiarity with FITS data format, astronomical CCD image data, and astronomical data manipulation software.
