Markarian’s Chain and the Virgo Cluster photographed by Deep Sky Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi After Dark

The Realmof Galaxies

DateApr 2, 2027

Time6:30–9:30 PM

Per guest$219

The Night

Through April and May, Hawaiʻi’s evening sky opens a window beyond the Milky Way. Leo, Virgo, and Coma Berenices guide us toward spring’s galaxy fields, while the Big Dipper points the way to bright northern galaxies. What first looks like a quiet patch of sky becomes a view of entire island universes.

We’ll explore the sky in three connected ways: tracing the constellations with the naked eye, looking live through the 12-inch LX90 at bright galaxies, selected nebulae, and double stars, and watching our imaging systems reveal the structure of distant galaxies and seasonal nebulae. Markarian’s Chain is the centerpiece: a rich sweep through the Virgo Cluster built exposure by exposure. Our targets follow the weather, Moon, and what is best placed that evening.

The Experience

6:30 PM

Look up · Sky orientation

Get settled, warm up with some hot chocolate, and let your eyes adjust. With the laser as our guide, we’ll trace Leo, Virgo, and Coma Berenices, then follow the Big Dipper toward the galaxy fields beyond our own Milky Way.

7:00–9:00 PM

Look through · Telescope time

Look directly through our 12-inch LX90 while the Mak-Newt and wide-field refractor collect tracked exposures beside it. We’ll move between the brighter galaxies, a glowing nebula or double star, and the growing images of distant galaxy fields—comparing what your eye sees with what the cameras collect.

9:00 PM

Look deeper · Images & closing

We bring all three views together and compare what we found overhead, what reached your eye through the telescope, and what the cameras revealed. We’ll explore the faint color and structure hidden in the exposures, answer final questions, and send every guest downloadable digital copies of the photographs captured during the night.

The Sky

Deep Sky Hawaiʻi · Sky Tour

Realm ofGalaxies

Beyond the Milky Way.

A researched April–May sky tour for Hawaiʻi evenings. Select Play to begin; tap the sky to pause or resume. The waiting globe turns slowly and reduced-motion preferences keep it still. Constellation artwork gives way to named bright stars. Each object holds for five seconds on a stationary constellation map, marked only by a bullseye; its photograph, name, catalogue and short description appear below. The Rosette is an April carryover. M83 joins from April 16, Centaurus A from April 23, and Lyra’s low Ring Nebula preview appears only on May 28. This is a guided sky atlas, not a dated horizon simulation; the actual lineup depends on time, weather, Moon and horizon. Photographs show long-exposure detail and credited reference views.

Monoceros → Rosette Nebula · NGC 2237 / NGC 2244 → Leo → Leo Triplet · M65 / M66 / NGC 3628 → Ursa Major → Bode’s & Cigar Galaxies · M81 / M82 → Pinwheel Galaxy · M101 → Mizar & Alcor → Boötes → Spring Diamond → Canes Venatici → Whirlpool Galaxy · M51 / NGC 5195 → Sunflower Galaxy · M63 → Coma Berenices → Black Eye Galaxy · M64 → Virgo → Markarian’s Chain · M84 / M86 → Sombrero Galaxy · M104. The final lineup depends on the event date, horizon and conditions.

The Telescopes

These are full-size, dedicated observing and astrophotography systems—not push-button gadgets. We align, track, guide, focus, and operate them throughout the night to reveal the sky in completely different ways.

Primary visual telescope

12-inch Meade LX90

Our 12-inch visual telescope gathers serious light and sends it directly to the eyepiece—no screen in between—revealing bright nebulae, star clusters, planets, and double stars in sharp detail.

Primary imaging telescope

190mm Mak-Newt

Our fast 190mm f/5 Mak-Newt rides on a guided EQ6-R Pro mount, collecting genuine long-exposure data from faint nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters with crisp detail.

Wide-field imaging telescope

Astro-Tech AT80ED

This 80mm refractor captures expansive, color-rich fields—ideal for the galaxies of Markarian’s Chain and the surrounding Virgo Cluster.

April 2, 2027 · 6:30–9:30 PM

Reserve your night under the stars.

A small-group, three-hour experience built around three ways of seeing the sky: naked eye, 12-inch eyepiece, and guided astrophotography. Every guest receives downloadable copies of the photographs captured during the tour. Limited to ten guests.

3 guided hours
Max 10 guests
Visual observing
Photos from your night included
Hot chocolate included

$219per guest

Getting thereMeet us on the mountain.

Guests drive themselves to the observing site. We choose one of four mountain meeting locations based on the evening’s weather and viewing conditions, allowing us to put the group where the sky looks best that night. Because this is an outdoor mountain experience, the exact meeting point and observing plan may shift with the weather. Your confirmation email will include the final location, arrival time, directions, and any last-minute updates.

← Back to all events

Hawaiʻi After Dark: The Realm of Galaxies — Apr 2, 2027

The Realmof Galaxies

Realm ofGalaxies

Reserve your night under the stars.