Mauna Kea, an extinct volcano towering high above the island of Hawaii, has not erupted in at least 10,000 years. But lately the barren, treeless area near the 13,796-ft. summit has been the scene of another, less menacing kind of activity. After three years of grueling work, construction crews are putting the finishing touches on the highest astronomical observatory on earth.
Howling Blizzards. On its lofty perch, Mauna Kea Observatory lies above 40% of the earth's obscuring atmosphere and provides its telescopes (an 88-in. reflector and two smaller 24-in. mirrors) with a spectacularly clear view of the stars and planets. Pictures of...
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