February 2004:  Over the past few months we have been corresponding with a very enthusiastic group of amateur astronomers in Venezuela who have developed an observatory in Caracas called Observatorio ARVAL. Their leader, Arnaldo Arval, initially contacted Walter Steiger regarding the article "Origins of Astronomy in Hawaii" found on the internet at www.ifa.hawaii.edu/users/steiger. It became clear that these amateurs were very serious about their love of astronomy but had very few resources. We offered to send some books and old journals which they said would be much appreciated. We also sent a number of copies of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald's tabloid "Stars Over Manua Kea" which were very well received. (see letter)

April 24, 2004:  AstroDay was celebrated again this year with CSO providing a manned display at the Prince Kuhio Plaza. See AstroDay web site.

June 30, 2004:  A grand OPENHOUSE was held in the University Park of Science and Technology involving all the observatories from Mauna Kea. School groups as well as the general public visited the various observatory base facilities. PHOTOS CSO's Open House featured an exhibit of the Observatory model and a poster illustrating views of the galaxy in different wavelengths.
Below, summer interns (see below) Riley Ceria and Meaghan Paceley served as guides to the visitors.

August 2004:  A few astronomy text books were sent to Observatorio ARVAL in Caracas (see above).

June - September 2004:  Summer Internships.
Every summer CSO provides opportunities for work experience to undergraduate students. During the summer of 2004 two students were employed.

Riley Ceria, whose home is here in Hilo, will be a senior electrical engineering student this fall at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is specializing in Electro-physics and has already had considerable experience in designing and constructing robots. Riley has found that a lot of what goes on in an observatory is related to engineering. His skills in electronics and computers have been put to work in updating many engineering drawings from paper to digital format. He has also designed and constructed an electronic device for providing a digital output for an anemometer which is located at the summit observatory. Riley says he has enjoyed working here a lot and now has a better idea of career opportunities.
    

Riley works on circuit with Pat Nelson (CSO Technical Staff)






Meaghan Paceley is a student at Caltech, entering her sophomore year and majoring in astrophysics. After taking a course from Professor Phillips, CSO Director, she inquired about a possible summer job at CSO in Hilo. That worked out and she has been kept very busy on various assignments. Her major assignment was to work with Dr. Martin Houde assisting with data analysis on his studies of magnetic fields in interstellar clouds. Meagan also spent a week at the summit observatory assisting astronomer Dr. Mary Gerin from France. She is also helping with the data analysis. Finally, she has been asked to work on the telescope-observer interface programming which is in need of some improvement. Meagan says she is learning a lot of new things and working hard but just loving it!

July 26, 2004: Make-A-Wish Tour A special event was arranged for Mark Sutcliffe and his family to visit the Mauna Kea Observatories. Mark suffers from Burkett's Lymphoma and was sponsored by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. CSO was among the observatories welcoming Mark and his family. Our summer interns Riley Ceria and Meaghan Paceley represented CSO in the gift presentation.

Riley Ceria on left and Meaghan Pacely on right with the Sutcliffe family.

September 4, 2004: CSO Staff Senior Scientist Ruisheng Peng presented a talk at the Ellison Onizuka Center for International Astronomy on the subject Star Formation Studies at CSO. The lecture was one of a series of monthly lectures presented for visitors to the Center.

December 4, 2004: ASTRONOMY IN HAWAII article authored by staff volunteer was published in the Seattle-based newspaper aimed at former Hawai`i residents, Norhtwest Hawai`i Times