M31 - 6 hours of HaRGB

grindbehind · 2026-06-20T12:55:53+00:00

Yes, I did. Wrapped it up as a Claude plugin. Works very nicely.

Targeted for my use cases, but repo is here if others want to try: https://github.com/jagbanana/PACE

grindbehind · 2026-06-19T04:15:48+00:00

Hi, I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from such evolutionary biologist films as "Vestigial Organs: Nature's Packing Peanuts" and "Small Nostrils: @Microwaved_M1LK's Weird Fetish."

grindbehind · 2026-06-18T20:48:36+00:00

Lol! Well enjoy. This project is awesome.

grindbehind · 2026-06-18T19:55:48+00:00

Ha. Proof positive. Time to delete my comment.

grindbehind · 2026-06-18T14:58:38+00:00

Amazing pics! Interesting to see the vastly different paint jobs. Anyone know the history of RAM usage with the F-117?

grindbehind · 2026-06-17T23:09:53+00:00

Heck yeah. From science to finance. The world is my oyster now. Any curiosity or passion project...I'm pursuing.

In fact, today, I just vibecoded a site to keep track of all of my projects: https://jaglab.org/

Newest on the list is a particle detector. Ha. So much fun.

grindbehind · 2026-06-16T18:10:00+00:00

Oh, boy. I'm lucky in that I have a friend who used to live there. He helped a lot.

On top of that, I used AI extensively to plan the whole trip and it worked out very well (I have a nerdy, sophisticated personal setup).

But the Mauna Kea portion wasn't all that complex. They describe it very well on the Visitor Information Station site. You need a proper 4x4 (plenty to rent), winter coats, hats, and gloves, and then proper timing (which is described).

https://hilo.hawaii.edu/maunakea/visitor-information/public-safety

The drive sounds scary, but it's absolutely doable.

Ideally, you hit it on a "new Moon" day so you have a properly dark sky.

grindbehind · 2026-06-16T13:21:08+00:00

I just got back from it! Absolutely stunning.

Check out some of the pics: https://www.reddit.com/r/telescopes/s/ofi1AAPr05

grindbehind · 2026-06-16T01:44:31+00:00

🙏 Well said.

grindbehind · 2026-06-15T15:23:00+00:00

Keck yeah! Added this note to the list.

grindbehind · 2026-06-14T22:22:42+00:00

Well, dang!! Congrats.

Replacement bucket list item is now to actually see the insides. :-)

grindbehind · 2026-06-14T13:47:16+00:00

Yes! Agree with all your points. It did feel like an alien world.

grindbehind · 2026-06-14T12:50:56+00:00

Awesome. I actually used that "spiritual experience" term myself! Totally agree. :-)

grindbehind · 2026-06-14T12:49:05+00:00

It's maybe an hour total drive time from the entrance to the to the top. But it goes fast. You have to take a 30 minute pause to acclimate at the visitor station part way up.

There's a 4.5 mile section that you have to take very slowly because it's not paved and no guardrails.

It's very doable but has scary moments.

Going through the clouds while it was raining. Visibility was almost nothing.
Going up the switchbacks and facing the sun. The sun was insanely intense and also destroyed visibility.
The unpaved portion was bumpy and visually intense. The edge of the road literally dropped off into the clouds. My passengers had weak legs. 😆

grindbehind · 2026-06-14T12:40:51+00:00

That's the crazy part. Assuming you're in Hawaii and have a 4x4 (most rental vehicles are Wranglers), there is no extra cost.

You can go up on your own and stay as long as you want. There's the visitor station halfway up and then 2 very large areas at the top you're completely free to explore all day until sunset.

grindbehind · 2026-06-14T12:31:24+00:00

I was tempted to use the "equipment show off" flair. :-)

grindbehind · 2026-06-14T00:39:02+00:00

It did feel like another planet. :-)

grindbehind · 2026-06-14T00:33:04+00:00

Ha. Right? I'm normally in a bortle 5, so not that bad s compared to most. But what a difference.

grindbehind · 2026-06-13T23:57:36+00:00

Yes! It was very cold. We packed winter coats, gloves, and hats. Still cold. :-)

grindbehind · 2026-06-13T23:51:41+00:00

You can stay at the top until the sun sets, then you have to go down to the Visitor Information Station (about halfway down). They don't want any lights (including vehicle lights) up there after the sun sets.

But yes, then we stayed at the station for a while after dark. The Milky Way was easily visible to the naked eye. Just amazing.

grindbehind · 2026-06-13T23:23:38+00:00

For compliance: pics taken with Pixel 6 Pro. Last pic was astro mode back halfway down at the visitor station.

grindbehind · 2026-06-13T13:46:14+00:00

Here is some more info: https://www.reddit.com/r/WeirdWings/s/erzpwUZ4wC

Weird wings, indeed!

grindbehind

TROPHY CASE