One of the observatories under the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) is closed.
Astronomers at the Mauna Loa ATLAS observatory reported that they had closed it as a precaution following the eruption of Mauna Loa, the largest volcano on Earth.
Mauna Loa's last eruption was in 1984, which almost lasted a month, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). According to the National Park Service, the period between then and now is considered the longest period of inactivity the volcano has.
ATLAS Mauna Loa Observatory Status Details
Mauna Loa ATLAS Observatory principal investigator and University of Hawai'i astronomer John Tonry mentioned in a statement that the lava within the volcano is confined to its caldera, but where the lava will go can't be predicted as of press time, per Space.com.
According to National Geographic, a volcano's caldera is a large depression formed when a volcano erupts, expelling the magma stored within its magma chamber and leaving it empty. The lack of magma within the chamber causes it to collapse, forming a caldera.
What is certain about the volcano is that it is spewing out ash, which is currently flying around the volcano, causing the astronomers at the Mauna Loa Observatory to place it in a "shutdown state."
Some personnel is considering the removal of the observatory's more valuable assets to a safer location to protect them from the eruption, but doing so is yet to be deemed necessary.
Tonry also noted that the lava was about 3 miles south and 3,000 feet above the observatory. Meanwhile, the USGS reports that Mauna Loa's eruption continues in the Northeast Rift Zone and that three fissures appeared on the volcano as of 1:30 PM UTC. Of these three fissures, only the lowerest was active.
Mauna Loa Eruption Details
Mauna Loa's eruption reportedly started at 4:30 AM ET, and it began in Moku'āweoweo, the volcano's summit caldera. The location of the observatory falls in an area where the lava flow is very likely to occur, leading the USGS to advise residents at risk from the lava flow to "review preparedness and refer to Hawai'i County Civil Defense information for further guidance," per CNBC.
The eruption also affects another astronomical observatory: the High Altitude Observatory of the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory. These facilities focus on atmospheric research and solar activity, respectively.
Fortunately, the High Altitude Observatory isn't in direct danger from Mauna Loa's eruption. Holly Gilbert, a solar scientist, and director of the High Altitude Observatory said that the lava from the volcano's summit could erupt for weeks without danger to the observatory.
What Is ATLAS?
ATLAS is an asteroid impact early warning system developed by the University of Hawai'i and funded by NASA that consists of four telescopes that scan the skies for moving objects, per ATLAS' official website.
Two of the four telescopes are located in Hawai'i: the Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea Observatories, while the other two are the El Sauce Observatory and the Sutherland Observing Station, located in Chile and South Africa, respectively.
To date, the System has already discovered 855 Near-Earth asteroids, 82 potentially hazardous asteroids, 76 comets, and 13,377 supernovae.
