Field Trip to Palomar Observatory

This past Saturday, our professor took us on a little field trip to the Palomar Observatory. Here are q few pictures from the trip!

The first view of the Observatory heading up the main road.

 Professor Siana leading the way.

 Trying to place the size of the observatory into perspective.

 Professor Siana looking right at home. He actually has spent a lot of his time here as a graduate student doing research.

 Here is a picture of a statue of George Ellery Hale. He is the man that watched over the planning, construction and design of the telescope. Although he put in a lot of effort to get the telescope up and running, he did not live to see its commissioning. It is said that if you rub this statue's nose, you will receive good luck!

 A tour guide showing us a diagram of the actual telescope.

 Pictures of the actual Hale telescope. It is pointing straight upwards in its "rest position." 

 The is where the actual 200" mirror is held in the telescope. Unfortunately, we were not able to see the actual mirror. 

 Our class.

 The cement slab our class is standing on is actually a replica of the mirror in regards ti size and weight. It was used as a dummy weight in order to calibrate the telescope while the real mirror was in the process of being made. The telescope is so precisely balanced that it only takes a .5hp motor to move and rotate the telescope.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!