A time lapse sequence of activity at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station (VIS) on May 26, 2009. The activity in the foreground is the evening stargazing session using various small telescopes set up by VIS staff and volunteers. The green lasers used to point out objects during the evening star tours are visible after dark and the streetlight comes on briefly around 10:00 PM when the VIS telescopes are put away.
There was a lot of vog (volcanic smog) and moisture in the air, so bright lights appear to make the whole image glow. Car lights are primarily responsible for the bright flashes seen after dark.
The movie was shot using a Canon 5D camera and Sigma 24mm f/1.8 lens. One photo taken every 30 seconds starting at 6:18 PM and ending at 11:23PM played back at 15 frames per second. The night images showing the Milky Way rising over the VIS are 20 second exposures at f/2.0 and ISO 1600.