Kathleen Mattingly, age 16, of Lake Charles, La., for her question:

HOW OLD IS THE MAUNA KEA OBSERVATORY?

Mauna Kea Observatory, the astronomical research facility that is located on Hawaii's dormant volcano Mauna Kea, is located at an altitude of 13,796 feet above sea level and it is used extensively for nighttime viewing with minimum interference from human light sources. The observatory was founded in 1967.

Mauna Kea Observatory is affiliated with the University of Hawaii but has a number of internationally sponsored instruments. The 144 inch optical and infrared reflector, for example, was placed in operation in 1979 and is sponsored by Canada and France as well as the United States. The 152 inch infrared reflector is sponsored by the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Also located at Mauna Kea are a 120 inch infrared reflector and an 88 inch optical and infrared reflector.

Not too far from the inactive Mauna Kea is the active volcano Mauna Loa, one of the world's largest volcanoes. It rises from a desolate landscape of old lava flows to a high point of 13,677 feet above sea level.