Mauna Loa Observatory

The Exploratorium webcast the transit of Venus from Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) , which is located on the north slope of the Mauna Loa volcano at an elevation of more than 11,000 feet (almost 3400 meters).

A leading atmospheric research facility, the observatory has been collecting and monitoring data relating to atmospheric change since the 1950s, making long-term measurements of key atmospheric chemicals that drive climate change. It's best known for its continuous record of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which shows a steady increase in the amount of this gas during more than a half century. MLO also studies the ozone layer and baseline air quality.

MLO, which shares its site with the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory, is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Earth System Research Laboratory, Global Monitoring Division. NOAA has long been a valued partner of the Exploratorium.