Hawaiian Snow

While many know Hawai‘i for its tropical weather and volcanoes, at high altitudes winter storms can bring snow. This frequently falls atop Maunakea in Hawai‘i, one of five volcanoes that form the island of Hawai‘i. Maunakea (altitude 4200 meters, or about 14,000 feet) is home to the Gemini North telescope, part of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSF’s NOIRLab. Fortunately for Gemini North and the other telescopes located here, snowfall on Maunakea happens only a few times each winter. For the rest of the year, it is not uncommon for astronomers to look down and see nothing but an array of clouds below them.