Palomar Observatory

We trekked about an hour from our home to visit the Palomar Observatory for the first time recently. Cal Tech owns and runs the telescope/observatory (my Grandpa graduated from Cal Tech in 1939, go Beavers!) and it's used every single night. Usage hours are in high demand, and if it's cloudy on the night you reserve the telescope, too bad.

"Awesome" doesn't even begin to describe this telescope or the building around it.

The devoted Mr. Garland calls the observatory a symbol from back in the "glory days" of science. Jeff's a former physics teacher, can you tell?

Z walks the border of the observatory, with his escort.

Our 3 kids at the observatory main entrance.

Picnic lunch in the grove after the observatory tour.

3 photos I borrowed from the website:

Open doors.

200" inch diameter glass.

The main Hale telescope is in the middle, with 3 smaller scopes in the surrounding hills.