Haleakala Observatories [key], astronomical facilities located on the summit of Haleakala volcano, 10,023 ft (3,055 m), in Haleakala National Park, Maui island, Hawaii. Because of the dry climate and limited light pollution at the site as well as its location above a third of the atmosphere, it is among the world's most important ground-based observatories. Operated by the Univ. of Hawaii and its partners, it includes the Mees Solar Observatory; PAN-STARRS PS 1 and PS 2, prototype telescopes that scan the sky continuously and provide information on a variety of celestial objects; the Faulkes Observatory, the education arm of the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network; the TLRS-4 Laser Ranging System, which provides satellite laser ranging data; and the Zodiacal Light Observatory, used for a variety of solar and coronal experiments. The Advanced Electro-Optical System (AEOS) and the Maui Space Surveillance Site are operated by the U.S. Air Force.
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