Talk:UH88

References about closure phase measurements
Can we have any references to the section telling us about the first closure phase measurements?

131.220.167.164 (talk) 16:14, 14 February 2012 (UTC)

A caution to all who would submit personal photos of Mauna Kea
Wikimedia and Wikipedia require that photos be available for all uses, including commercial use. The University of Hawaii system prohibits photos taken within the Mauna Kea Science Area Reserve from being used commercially or released for commercial use unless a commercial film/photography permit was acquired before the photos were taken. In addition, if photos include any observatory buildings, permission for commercial use must be acquired from each observatory shown.

q.v.

While it is unlikely that the University has the time or interest to do anything about posting of "unauthorized" photos to Wikipedia, this apparently irreconcilable conflict between its policy and that of Wikimedia and Wikipedia is something Wikipedians should be aware of when considering submitting their personal photos of Mauna Kea.

I've worked on Mauna Kea for five years, most of it for the University of Hawaii, so I'm very familiar with their policies. I've never once gotten a permit for commercial photography, and as a result, I can't submit to Wikipedia any of the thousands of photos I have of the observatories.

Hope this helps!

Dan (talk) 13:30, 24 August 2009 (UTC)


 * Thanks for this info! I arrived here via the warning link at commons:Category:Mauna_Kea_Observatory.


 * Two questions arise:
 * Google Maps shows quite a few "Panoramio" photos (see http://maps.google.nl/maps?ll=19.82429,-155.469294&spn=0.003295,0.004823&z=18&lci=com.panoramio.all). Does this mean that all (or most) of them may be illegally published?
 * Google Maps in "satellite photo" mode shows airial views of the telescopes. For the Dutch Wikipedia, I am considering to make an image based on this Google airial photo, with the names of the telescopes printed in the photo (or in the comment, with numbers on the photo, or so). Does UH or anyone over there object against this option?
 * Thanks in advance for your additional info!
 * HHahn (Talk)  10:55, 25 May 2010 (UTC)


 * HHahn, I apologize for taking so long to read your questions. I don't know whether Panoramio or Google Maps constitutes a commercial (i.e. for-profit) use.  Does someone make money off those photos being there?  As for the second question, I think the only control the Office of Mauna Kea Management / University / State Film+TV office claims is over people taking pictures while physically standing on land under their control.  Certainly their jurisdiction does not cover satellites. Dan (talk) 23:05, 27 September 2010 (UTC)

Under what authority does the University determine the copyright status of photos an individual has taken. They may control access to the installation and tell you whatever they want. Nevertheless upon leaving the installation they don't get to dictate copyright restrictions of photos an individual took. If an individual takes a photo, then uses it commercially without having gotten their permission, their only option is to not let that individual back on the property. This seems like a serious case of copyfraud to me. Huckfinne (talk) 15:43, 31 May 2010 (UTC)


 * Hawaii's state government, as a whole, requires permits for commercial photography and film/video work on state lands. In the case of Mauna Kea, the observatories are within the Astronomy Precinct, which is 500 acres controlled by the University, surrounded by the Science Reserve and Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, all under the state Department of Land and Natural Resources - see this PDF map).


 * However, photographs taken from outside that area are apparently not subject to the same restrictions - I took a photo of Mauna Kea from near Volcano, and the gift shop at the visitor station sells copies of it, no permit required! I'm not sure about aerial photos - the state government might claim jurisdiction over state airspace - but for HHahn, I think they'd have a very hard time claiming jurisdiction over space. :) Dan (talk) 08:55, 13 June 2010 (UTC)


 * You are both talking about whether a the photographer violated state law or not. This is an independent issue from whether or not the photo is copyrighted.  Copyright law is federal.  The state cannot make a law dictating the status of works created in their state. Huckfinne (talk) 16:39, 23 December 2010 (UTC)


 * That's correct, Huckfinne. Generally, if you take a photo, you hold the copyright, unless you have an agreement with someone else to assign it to them, or hold it jointly with them.  However, if you take a portrait of a random person, you can't just go sell it (or provide it to someone else who sells it) without their permission.  Similarly, in the case of Hawaii, the state Film Office requires a permit if you're taking pictures in Hawaii for commercial use, and in the case of observatories on Mauna Kea, there are additional permissions required.  And "commercial use" is broad enough to include giving it to Wikipedia, where someone else might download it and use it commercially.


 * Incidentally, the state doesn't charge anything for the permit - but the Office of Mauna Kea Management charges $200, and the state requires $1 million in liability insurance, and $1 million in vehicular liability insurance, so there's a bit of a financial barrier to everyone doing it. And most of the observatories also don't charge for permission (I say "most" because there's the possibility Caltech might charge for permission to photograph the exterior of theirs).  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Danbirchall (talk • contribs) 01:57, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Added a little more info.
I added some info about the structure of the telescope (mount, etc) and a couple of the better-known discoveries made using it.

Dan (talk) 12:48, 4 February 2008 (UTC)