I occasionally discuss a stargazing site on this blog, and I'm inspired to shout out to hilalsighting.org
It's probably the definitive website for sharing information related to the Islamic calendar and sightings of the moon to begin a new month.
This is especially topical, considering that the new moon is a signifier of the beginning of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, prayer, and the anniversary of the revelation of the Quran.
Check it out!
Friday, June 19, 2015
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
New Telescope Planned for Construction in Hawaii
There is a new telescope slated to be built on a mountaintop in Hawaii, situated out in the Pacific Ocean, away from the big city light pollution of the continents.
The "Thirty Meter Telescope" is likely to be the largest device of its kind in the world, and the most powerful optical telescope ever built.
The problem with the Thirty Meter project, however, is that it is slated to be built directly on top of a sacred mountaintop, and construction has been halted by a group of native Hawaiian protesters that believe that the construction of such a device in that location would constitute sacrilege.
Additionally, the ecosystem of the mountain is both delicate and unique, and the construction of the telescope, and the surrounding superstructure of an observatory and support system, would likely spell disaster for the creatures living on and around the peak.
While legally there is no dilemma, there are significant social justice causes to be considered, and at this time construction has been halted.
I've included a concept image of what the telescope would look like.
The "Thirty Meter Telescope" is likely to be the largest device of its kind in the world, and the most powerful optical telescope ever built.
The problem with the Thirty Meter project, however, is that it is slated to be built directly on top of a sacred mountaintop, and construction has been halted by a group of native Hawaiian protesters that believe that the construction of such a device in that location would constitute sacrilege.
Additionally, the ecosystem of the mountain is both delicate and unique, and the construction of the telescope, and the surrounding superstructure of an observatory and support system, would likely spell disaster for the creatures living on and around the peak.
While legally there is no dilemma, there are significant social justice causes to be considered, and at this time construction has been halted.
I've included a concept image of what the telescope would look like.
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