The road up Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii, USA

This road leads to the highest point in the state of Hawaii. Mauna Kea, on Hawaii’s Big Island, isn’t quite a dormant volcano. But compared to some of the other peaks in the Hawaiian Islands, it’s a safe bet you won’t be dodging fast-flowing lava while on the mountain’s slopes.

In fact, astronomers consider Mauna Kea so stable, they’ve built multiple observatories at the summit. With its high altitude, dry atmosphere, and stable airflow, the summit is one of the best sites in the world for astronomical observation. But despite their scientific value, the observatories have drawn opposition. Environmentalists are concerned about their impact on rare native bird populations, while Native Hawaiians believe development of the area will spoil a site they hold sacred. In Native Hawaiian religious beliefs, the peaks of the island of Hawaii are considered sacrosanct, and Mauna Kea is the most sacred peak of all. Some view the proposed building of a new observatory, the Thirty Meter Telescope, which would be among the largest telescopes in the world, as a violation of these sacred beliefs.

Whatever your beliefs, the immense, austere beauty of Mauna Kea is hard to deny. So if you miss out on a daytime trip up to the top of the mountain, don’t worry. You can head up after sunset and enjoy the view of the night sky – no telescope required.