Earthquake's effect on the Mauna Kea telescopes?

[Bill McBlueState]

Are there any geologists or astronomers around who know what effect the Kona earthquake might have had on the observatories on Mauna Kea? The website of the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy is down at the moment, so that's no help.

Mauna Kea is about 60 miles inland from Kona and about 14,000 feet above it.

[electron_blue]

1. good question. I don't know, but now you have me curious.

[bikebloke]

2. I'll find out tomorrow.

I work with one. He should know.

[bikebloke]

7. No word yet.

But he said that they have limited back-up generators. Viewing is possible, but not moving the domes.

[Dudley_DUright]

3. The Keck telescopes are the biggest in the world

and very sensitive and expensive. I hope they are OK. The main Keck site is up, but the Mauna Kea Keck site is down.

http://www.keckobservatory.org/about.php

[AnnieBW]

4. Power Out in Hawaii

I just heard on the radio that power is out to 90% of Hawaii. There were big sinkholes around Hilo, if that helps any. Unless someone has a power generator and a satellite hookup, it's doubtful that they're getting any word out. The one reporter that lives in Honolulu that I heard on the radio has a satellite phone.

[Not Me]

5. Not quite that bad...

you can stream coverage at www.thehawaiichannel.com

The Big Island, particularly Kona and Kohala are the worst problem. Some power outages, some road issues.

[bananas]

6. I don't know, but I just found a photo of the giant spaghetti monster

It's pretty funny.
I'm not putting it inline because it's kind of large.
http://spider.ipac.caltech.edu/staff/kaspar/obs_mishaps/images/earthquake.html

[Bill McBlueState]

8. update on Keck

According to the director of the Keck telescopes, no injuries were reported to telescope personnel. Their headquarters in the town of Waimea, which is pretty close to the epicenter, has "modest" damage to ceiling tiles and light fixtures, but no damage to computers. At the summit, the Keck 1 telescope appears fine, while Keck 2 has some damage to its guiding systems but not the telescope optics. (The optics are what make the thing cost millions of dollars, so this is good.)

Observing on both telescopes is cancelled tonight, and they think Keck 2 will be down for a few nights. Still no news on the other telescopes at the summit, but I imagine reports are similar.