Hauoli Makahiki Hou

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).