This week’s Friendly Friday challenge theme is ‘Twins.’ (See more responses here.)
These are the two telescopes of the W. M. Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea. Keck 1 began operation in November, 1990, while Keck 2 made its first observations in October 1996. Each telescope’s 10-meter primary mirror is made up of 36 segments, hexagonal in shape. Not that these segments are small themselves. Each one is 1.8 meters wide and weighs half a ton.
The telescopes can accommodate a wide variety of instruments, such as cameras and spectrometers, and are considered to be the most scientifically productive in the world.
For more information about the W. M. Keck Observatory, go to www.keckobservatory.org.
A very cool photo and great choice! 🙂 …I like the comment about two teletubbies – now I see two R2D2’s there and I can’t unsee it! (Enjoying the view, obviously)
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Teletubbies and R2D2s. I’m liking the images. I think I’ll have to try and get on one of the tours of these telescopes and see them from the inside too.
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That sounds interesting too!
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It is. I’ve been inside three of them and they’re all a little different.
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Makes me think of two teletubbies sitting there enjoying the view 🙂
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Good image. They certainly have a good view.
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An otherworldly shot! Very cool!
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Literally cool! Mauna Kea at sunset requires some warm clothing for comfort.
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Nice response to the challenge.
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Thanks David. It popped to mind immediately.
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