From another planet?

When taking friends and family to the summit of Mauna Kea I often hear the same comment; "it looks like another planet". Just before reaching the paved road that takes you up to the summit the vista is of Mars, volcanic features and red rock. Seeing that view at sunset only makes it look even more Martian. Further up the road, just past Goodrich Pass, visitors get a sudden glimpse of the observatories atop Mauna Kea. There's often a gasp or two! They've just seen what passes for a Martian landscape and now the view really changes - some of the most incredible, out-of-this-world buildings you'll ever see.

Keera, author of the wonderful "A Roll in the Universe" made a comment on this blog recently about how this place is set for a science fiction movie. She's right although whether local laws would allow that or not I'm not too sure, but this is a place where NASA trained its astronauts and has tested all sorts of robotic vehicles. It really is like another planet!

The observatory in the picture above is the CSO looking very sci-fi! I took one or two very minor liberties to make the picture look a little more Martian!