Check it out

From the San Diego Union Tribune – October 18, 2008

[[ I was up on Palomar Mountain a few weeks ago for work. Got a tour up to “the” observatory. Like many folks – yes, even a native like me – I always thought there was just one observatory. Nope they come in many different sizes! And there are five of them.

I also didn’t know until then that the facility is run by CalTech. ]]

THE SITE: Palomar Observatory

THE PLACE: Every night, telescopes at the Palomar Observatory are trained on the sky, combing the vast blackness for bursts of light or movement. The trajectory of an asteroid or comet, or the curve of a planet outside the solar system traveling past a star, provide data to help scientists learn more about the universe.

These days, most telescopes use technology so sensitive that the human eye isn't a useful tool for decoding the images. That's why visitors eager to peep into one of the observatory's five telescopes aren't able to do so. For the most part, they lack eyepieces.

But visitors are still welcome at Palomar Observatory, the astronomical research center on Palomar Mountain that is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology.

Visitors can take self-guided tours of the 200-inch Hale Telescope, the observatory's largest and perhaps most famous. It is still used every night.

Other telescopes include the 48-inch Samuel Oschin Telescope, which helped researchers map the universe's structure by cataloging galaxy clusters. The observatory's smallest telescope, the Palomar Planet Finder, is a robotic device on the lookout for planets outside the solar system.

Visitors can learn about these discoveries from guides, and view the Hale Telescope from the observatory catwalk.

Although the tours aren't tailored for very young kids, children at the third-grade level and older can enjoy science talks and tours. Small-sized tour groups allow visitors to get scientific answers to their questions about stars, planets and the universe. People often ask how frequently the Hale Telescope is used, and if scientists ever get to see black holes and spacecraft.

Visitors should dress warmly, because the Observatory's interior is kept dim and cool to minimize interference with the view. Differences in temperature can cause blurring, the Palomar Observatory Web site explains, just like air around a sizzling barbecue or parking lot on a hot day creates a blur of heat waves.

LOCATION: 35899 Canfield Road, Palomar Mountain. The observatory is located within the Cleveland National Forest, 5,500 feet above sea level.

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m daily for self-guided visits. Public tours are offered between April and October, with Saturday tours at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Periodic evening tours provided by the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center are from 3 p.m. to midnight.

COST: Self-guided visits are free. Public tours are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2.50 for children. Children under 6 get in free. Annual Friends of the Palomar Observatory memberships cost $45 for individuals, $75 for families, and $30 for students and seniors.

ONLINE: www.astro.caltech.edu/palomarnew