Dave Eicher delivers his talks in Kona, Hawaii, on the morning of June 3, 2012.
Alex Filippenko speaks about the Keck Observatory in Kona, Hawaii, on June 3, 2012.
Astronomy's reader group assembles for talks and a reception on the morning of June 3, 2012.
Melita Thorpe of MWT Associates welcomes travelers on the Hawaii Transit Tour, June 3, 2012.
The James Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, marks the spot where Captain Cook brought his ships into the bay and subsequently was killed by native Hawaiians on January 17, 1779; photo taken June 3, 2012.
Quite a few of us on ship believed we saw a brief green flash at sunset on the ocean; it was harder to capture, though, with cameras, June 3, 2012.
To finish the first day of the trip, dinner with astronomer Alex Filippenko and his charming wife, Noelle.
The Subaru Telescope, the twin Kecks, and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility line a ridge on Mauna Kea, June 4, 2012.
Alex Filippenko of the University of California, Berkeley, and Editor Dave Eicher pose with Murry and Dee Fly of Austin, Texas, on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, June 4, 2012. The Flys celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary on this day!
Solar observing took center stage when we arrived at the 9,000-foot visitor center at Mauna Kea, June 4, 2012.
The massive 10-meter mirror of the Keck I Telescope is visible in this shot taken June 4, 2012.
The Keck I Telescope, slowly moving around in a slewing test, as the dome also moves, June 4, 2012.
The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and the massive shiny dome of the Gemini North Telescope stand on the volcanic soil of Mauna Kea's summit, June 4, 2012.
With Julie and Daniel Thorpe on the summit of Mauna Kea, with the Subaru Telescope and the Kecks behind us, June 4, 2012.
The summit of Mauna Kea presents many Mars-like landscapes, June 4, 2012.
A beautiful fogbow appeared while driving down from the mountain's summit, June 4, 2012.
A fabulous dinner ended the second day, with, left to right, Daniel Thorpe, Noelle Filippenko, Dave Eicher, Melita Thorpe, Alex Filippenko, and Julie Thorpe, June 4, 2012.
Our group begins the setup process about an hour before first contact, June 5, 2012.
The Pacific Ocean as it appeared from our transit viewing site, June 5, 2012.
Though not a great picture technically, this afocal shot taken through Daniel Thorpe's scope shows that Venus still exists ò?? ha, June 5, 2012.
Members of Astronomy's group prepare for the second half of the transit, June 5, 2012.
The scene, looking west, near fourth contact on transit day, June 5, 2012.
The Pacific Ocean near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is quite captivating, June 6, 2012.
Astronomy Contributing Editor Steve Oò??Meara lectures on volcano history and physics in front of the Kilauea Caldera, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, June 6, 2012.
The Thurston Lava Tube at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park allows visitors to walk completely through a hollow lava tube, June 6, 2012.
Two old friends: Steve O'Meara and Dave Eicher at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, June 6, 2012.
Lush Hawaiian tropics reminiscent of a rainforest occupy parts of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, June 6, 2012.
Astronomical artist Jon Lomberg, who was, among many other things, principal illustrator for Carl Sagan's Cosmos TV series, poses with Editor Dave Eicher in the artist's library on the Big Island, June 7, 2012.
Astronomical artist Jon Lomberg's home hosts the famous Galaxy Garden, a huge complex of plants that plots out the shape and structure of the Milky Way Galaxy, down to flowers representing areas of spiral arms and earrings stuck in specific leaves marking the Sun and the brightest stars in our sky.
Following our talks on Thursday morning, astronomer Alex Filippenko from the University of California, Berkeley, and I answered questions during a long Q&A session, June 7, 2012.
During our dinner cruise, we visited Kealakekua Bay, witnessing the site where Captain James Cook was killed by Hawaiians following a series of quarrels February 14, 1779, imaged June 7, 2012.
A young manta ray swims up toward the side of our ship, June 7, 2012.
As we set off for Kona once again, dolphins swam right in front and underneath the ship's bow, June 7, 2012.
A rare shot of the 10-meter Keck I Telescope showing its hexagonal mirror segments, June 8, 2012.
Part of Astronomyò??s tour group at the Keck I dome on the summit of Mauna Kea, June 8, 2012.
The 3.6-meter Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, June 8, 2012.
On the mountainò??s summit, the Subaru Telescope (left) stands next to the twin Keck domes, June 8, 2012.
On Mauna Keaò??s summit, tour organizers Julie and Daniel Thorpe (left and right) pose with Editor Dave Eicher and UC Berkeley astronomer Alex Filippenko, June 8, 2012.
A portion of Astronomyò??s tour group poses beside the Gemini North dome on the summit of Mauna Kea, June 8, 2012.
The second-largest shield volcano known, Mauna Loa, photographed from the summit of Mauna Kea. Only Olympus Mons on Mars is larger. Imaged June 8, 2012.