Mike's Pilgrimage to the Great telescopes

Mike's Pilgrimage to The Great California Telescopes

Tripod Camera Shots at 8750ft Elevation
All the shots are of the Sagittarius Star Cloud Area at Tulomme Meadows in Yosemite National Park

Mount Palomar
at 4:45pm it closed at 4:30pm

For an amateur astronomer, this is "SACRED GROUND", to be able to see such a piece of ASTRONOMY HISTORY. To walk in the observartory and know the great astronomers that have used this facility. It made me feel very humble! Anyone interested in Palomar Observatory should read the books "First Light" and "The Perfect Machine" both excellent!

THE FAMOUS PALOMAR OBSERVATORY............THE SKY LOOKING EAST FROM PALOMAR

ONE OF THE TEST MIRROR PRODUCED.............ROLL OFF OBSERVATORY AROUND POLAMAR

......WHEN THEY MANUFACTURED THE 200"..........are

part of PTI, the Interferometer Testbed, searching for

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Planets around other stars.

THE CCD CAMERA ON THE 200" .....PRIME FOCUS CAGE OF 200"

CLEAR SKIES OVER PALOMAR NOTE THE CLOUDS ON THE RIGHT MIDDLE OF THE PICTURE

THAT'S LOOKING BACK TO L.A

MOUNT WILSON

The 150 Hale Solar telescope.............The 60" Telescope you can RENT For $900 a night!

The 100" Hooker Telescope ...................The Business end of the 100" Hooker

These small observartories are part of the.............Original Clock drive system

C.H.A.R.A.Project for high resolution astronomy..............used on the 100" Hooker...