Join this experience led by an astronomer and astro-photographer!

Highlights

• Our photographer will take epic photos of you with the Milky Way
• View Galaxies, Nebulas and Star clusters through an Astro-Cam
• Ponder your place in the universe with two guides
• Only tour company that avoids the crowds, bright moon and offers a stargazing guarantee

Location and Time

Mauna Kea Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area (Check your email confirmation for updated meeting location) Entire experience is 2 Hours

• Specific start times and prices are the calendar
• We will stargaze from altitudes below 9k feet on Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa
• Tour companies and private individuals are not permitted to stargaze at the summit. We have our own unique locations that we go to for epic stargazing. The summit is closed 45 minutes after sunset and solely for research and cultural practices

Description

All experiences are led by James, an Analog-Astronaut and Astro-Photographer as well as Dylan, a Space Scientist/Astrophysics major and lead operator for a private solar observatory.

Journey to a remote stargazing location, far from culturally sensitive and touristy locations to truly enjoy the dark skies of Hawaii.

Your guides James and Dylan will lead a stargazing program using a high-powered green laser pointer. During that time, we will be using a deep space camera setup to zoom into nebulas, star clusters, and galaxies.

Towards the end of the experience groups will split off one by one with James to take Milky Way portrait photos while other groups will be listening to Dylan’s interactive StarTalk lecture.

All medium resolution photos taken throughout the trip of deep space objects and of your group are included in the price.

This is the only stargazing adventure in Hawaii that doesn't do stargazing tours when the moon is brighter than 20%. When the moon is brighter than that, the night sky is too bright and the stars are too few to properly enjoy stargazing. All time slots are hand-selected for optimal stargazing views.

Photo upgrades are available

Inclusions

• Comfy Parka Jackets with pockets and a hood
• Complimentary photos available for download within 24 hours after the experience

Exclusions

• Hotel pickup
• Gratuities (optional)

Know Before You Book

• Want to ask a question? Instagram is our fastest way to respond - Instagram: @EpicTours
• Comfortable pants and walking shoes are highly recommended
• Not typically recommended for children under 5 years old although any ages are welcome
• Since we are able to start later in the evening, we avoid almost all of the other tour companies, giving you a more private and unique experience
• Book your adventure on one of your first nights of your vacation, just in case we have to reschedule later in the week because of high clouds
• Maximum of 12 guests to 1 guide

Common Questions

Q. What’s your cancellation policy?

A. To receive a full refund, cancel 24 hours or more before the experience. If you can’t cancel in time, we give standby tickets for a future tour.

Q. What ages can join?

A. Since our tours won’t be going to extreme altitudes, any age can join. Our max altitude is around 9k feet. Doctors recommend staying below that altitude to minimize potential altitude sickness. It is extremely rare that anyone ever feels sick on our tours.

Q. Do you use a telescope?

A. We use a deep space star-tracker camera setup that takes long-exposure, tracked photos of galaxies, star clusters and nebulae.

Q. This tour comes with free photos, right?

A. Yes! Everyone gets a few epic photos of them with the night sky taken complimentary by a professional astro-photographer. This will be part of a “basic” photo package. We will also take images of galaxies, nebulae and star clusters. Those photos are also included in the price of the tour. Upgrades are available.

Q. What kind of info is shared on the tour?

A. Your guides James and Dylan will lead a stargazing program using a high-powered green laser pointer. They will point out constellations as well as have you peer through a camera/scope and learn about fun facts of deep sky space objects.

Towards the end of the experience groups will split off one by one with James to take Milky Way portrait photos and other groups will be listening to Dylan’s interactive StarTalk lecture.

Q. Why do start times vary online?

A. We never want to do stargazing tours when the moon is brighter than 20%. So we have times throughout the night that can avoid the moon on that particular night.

The core of the Milky Way galaxy is visible in the early mornings of February through May. From June through October, it can be seen in the evenings after sunset.

Q. Does this tour visit the summit?

A. Our tours do not. The summit is closed after sunset and only telescope operators, cultural practitioners and rangers are allowed up there.

All tour companies and private individuals drive down to lower elevations after sunset and stargaze closer to the visitors center.

Hundreds of vehicles are on that road each night, so it’s not the best place to stargaze from. We avoid those crowds and head to a remote stargazing area.

Q. Do we watch sunset?

A. Our tours start at least an hour after sunset to make sure you get the best stargazing experience possible. Feel free to watch the sunset on your own and join us afterwards.

Q. Where’s a good spot for sunset?

A. Sunset hill (Pu’u Kalepeamoa) on Mauna Kea, near the visitors information station.

It’s a 10 minute moderate hike up a cinder cone hill. Wear closed toed shoes and warm clothes.

Q. Where do we meetup?

A. On the slopes of Mauna Kea.
Click the Google link below to see the map. Mauna Kea State Recreation Area https://goo.gl/maps/asXyBB66NnR75TSy7

Q. Can you pick up in town?

A. Not typically. James will get up in the mountains a few hours before your tour start time and check for the best possible location to stargaze from to avoid the crowds and clouds. If the clouds don’t seem to disappear in time for your tour, James will let you know 90 minutes before the start time if the tour needs to be cancelled or postponed. That way you don’t have to drive in the mountains and waste valuable vacation time.

You’ll receive a 100% refund if we need to cancel because of weather.

Mauna Kea gets almost 300 clear nights each year.

Most nights the clouds start to clear up after sunset or James will find the best spot to avoid the clouds. It’s difficult to give more than a 90 minute heads up about weather conditions for the spots we go to since the clouds typically start to clear up after sunset.

Q. Can we upgrade to the high resolution photos after the tour?

A. Upgrades can be made anytime before or after the tour. The high-resolution files will be saved, indefinitely.

Q. Will it be cold?

A. The temperatures up in the mountains can typically be 40°F. We will bring parka jackets for everyone, they have a hood and pockets.

Some brave individuals wear red dresses in the star photos. During the tour they wear our parka over the dress to keep warm.

Q. What happens if it’s too cloudy?

A. Here’s the short answer: 100% refund or come back again free.

If the clouds don’t seem to disappear in time for your tour, James will let you know 90 minutes before the start time if the tour needs to be cancelled or postponed.
That way you don’t have to drive in the mountains and waste valuable vacation time. You’ll receive a 100% refund if we need to cancel because of weather.

Most nights the clouds start to clear up after sunset or James will find the best spot to avoid the clouds. It’s difficult to give more than a 90 minute heads up about weather conditions for the spots we go to since the clouds typically start to clear up after sunset.