Mauna Loa Solar Observatory

Mike McGraph, Howard Hull, Charlie Garcia, Bob Lee, and Lee Lacey in front of Mauna Loa Observatory, circa 1986

Don Johnson, 8' spar, circa 1970

The Mauna Loa Solar Observatory opened in 1965 and housed the K-coronameter (an instrument for observing the solar corona) that had originally been used in Climax, Colorado, at HAO's first location. The Observatory perches on a shoulder of Mauna Loa, a volcanic island, leading to some exciting moments for staff. MLSO has been evacuated a few times because of volcanic eruptions.