Mauna Kea Stargazing Experience + Photos
81 Reviews |
Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Badge of Excellence |
Big Island of Hawaii, USA
2 hours (Approx.)
Mobile Ticket
Instant Confirmation
Overview
Led by an Analog-Astronaut and Pro Astro-Photographer, we are the only stargazing company that avoids the bright moon and hand-selects time slots and spots for optimal stargazing views.
The tour comes in 3 parts:
First:
Your guide will point out celestial objects and constellations with a powerful green laser pointer, talk about his time as an Analog-Astronaut and more.
Second:
View live details of deep space using a sophisticated, light-sensitive camera and telescope. Look at epic views of deep space objects like Galaxies and Nebulas that you didn't know was possible.
Third:
Your Astro-Photographer guide will take a few stellar photos of you with the Milky Way.
All medium resolution photos taken throughout the trip are included in the price.
-High Resolution upgrades are available.
Stargazing locations vary each night depending on clouds and crowds. We stargaze on the slopes of Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa, whichever spot has the best conditions.
Description
Schedule
What's Included
What To Bring
Additional Info
Reviews
4.80
81 reviews
Average 4.80 out of 5 stars based on 81 verified reviews from Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
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Kate_S, Mar 2023 Verified
Finding out all the new names of stars was interesting. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and engaging. They also provided use with jackets but do dress, warm. Meets expectations and looking forward to the photos :)
Z6626ZDkarenh, Feb 2023 Verified
Now that James helped guide me through the process so I could download the fabulous pictures for free, I am much happier. The photos James took were amazing and showed off the night sky. This combined with his knowledge made the tour worthwhile. The highlight of the evening, since we didn’t use telescopes, was the photo of the green comet that passes Earth every 40,000 years. That was special.
One caution…Several friends had taken another tour last year so we thought we would be traveling to the top of Mauna Kea to view the stars. If that’s your goal, this isn’t your tour.
Collin C, Jan 2023 Verified
Interesting to see the reviews here. I think some are thrown off by James' laid back style, which I totally get. This isn't a professional presentation or rigid tour. If you understand that going in, you get the full value out of what this is.James knows the best spot to go that night in those conditions to give you the best view of the stars. That's invaluable. He provides jackets and chairs so everyone is comfortable. He then helps you get the most out of your stargazing experience, showing you various stars, taking photos (and even helping you take photos of your own) so you can see way more detail than is possible with the naked eye, and teaching you more about what you're seeing. He then takes a few photos of your party with the stars as your backdrop, a shot that would be nearly impossible to take yourself. Oh, and a bonus, he's super patient, which we experienced as he was dealing with a very demanding and frustrating group of attendees...I'd imagine this quality would be great to help make sure your little ones have a good time.
jon88weaver, Jan 2023 Verified
Amazing night sky. Could see the Milky Way, shooting stars and even a satellite pass by overhead. Parkas and lounge chairs provided so you very comfortable.
The use of a laser pointer made it feel like you were in your own personal planetarium.
Through his camera you could see nebulas, andromeda and red giants. Would 100% do again!
Trey_D, Jan 2023 Verified
We started early morning. Very cool spot up Saddle Road on the slopes of Mauna Kea. It was a full moon. There were plenty of stars to gaze but we waited till the moon set and the sky exploded with red stars, nebulae, meteor showers, galaxies 28 million light years away. Yep, we saw Whirlpool in James amazing camera peering into deep space! It was rad. James was very knowledgeable of the skies. He pointed out specific stars, planets, constellations and other fun stuff UP THERE. The event was really well organized, no Snaf-oos and the guide knew what to do while operating in the dark. Very professional.
Chocolatelover755, Jan 2023 Verified
Our stargazing tour with James was an incredible addition to our vacation. It is an absolutely must-do while you are on the Big Island.From the beginning, James made sure to make the tour a comfortable experience. Before the tour, he kept track of the conditions and provided updates. This allowed us to get the best night sky for our tour. Additionally, James provided chairs and parkas, a welcome feature during the cold night.James made the tour unforgettable. We started with some background, not just on the night sky but on his story. His patience, love for astronomy, and outgoing personality made it seem like a conversation as opposed to a tour. Throughout his commentary, we viewed the pictures he took with his camera. These pictures gave us a new perspective on the sky, allowing us to see nebulas, stars up close, and incredible colors. James was also sure to point out features visible to the naked eye, allowing us to learn some basic astronomy. At the end of tour, James was more than happy to stay behind and continue talking.This tour was easily a highlight of our vacation. If you are visiting the Big Island and don’t mind an early morning, this tour is absolutely worth it.
Todd_A, Dec 2022 Verified
James was an excellent guide, well-organized, and picked a great location that afforded clear viewing with minimal disruption. Great pictures too! Really liked his approach towards pointing out the stars and talking about the hows/whys of viewing them.
Lisa_P, Dec 2022 Verified
Amazing star gazing experience on the side of a volcano . Stars like we had never seen before everyone in my family was amazed by the tour guides expertise and presentation. We learned all about the stars and other galaxies!! My college kids loved it as well as my husband and myself!
Bala_S, Dec 2022 Verified
Excellent star gazing experience with detailed information. James was also very accommodating wet the groups' request for finding us a better viewing location due to changing weather conditions.
86stevei, Dec 2022 Verified
This is a “don’t miss” experience. We are 6 adults and four children, ages 70 to 5. All were amazed and delIghted. Even the 5 yo stayed awake and had many comments when he woke up the next morning.. James is an excellent guide and his photography is outstanding. Yes, it is pricey. But none of us had ever seen the stars this way and probably will not again, unless we do a return visit to see James.
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Product code: C-8945P14
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