Explanation:
Fading sunlight,
a young crescent Moon, and
brilliant
Venus
shared the western sky in this view of 2005's final sunset from
the top of
Mount Haleakala, on Maui, Hawaii.
Also known as the Sacred House of the Sun,
Haleakala,
is Maui's dormant volcano.
At 10,000 feet the summit is an ideal site for
astronomical
observatories, and this scene also features the silhouette
of the northern hemisphere Faulkes Telescope.
Of particular interest to students
the Faulkes
Telescope is a 2-meter diameter instrument, dedicated to
astronomy education, that can be remotely operated over
the internet.
The project is a joint effort between the Dill Faulkes Educational
Trust and the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy.
Of course on Haleakala, "Happy New Year"would be
"Hauoli Makahiki hou" (how-oh-lee ma-ka-hee-key ho).
