DAY TRIP Palomar Observatory

The Palomar Observatory has been viewing the stars, planets and universe since 1936. According to a timeline on the observatory’s website, plans for construction began on the project in 1908 through funds from the Carnegie Institution. After procuring the funds necessary for a state-of-the-art institution with some of the most advanced telescopes in the world, a site was selected and construction was started. First views of the sky were taken by the Schmidt telescope in 1936. Mostly looking at supernovae, the Schmidt was so efficient, they decided to build another to complement the soon-to-be 200-inch telescope. The opening of the major portion of the observatory was stalled due to World War II, but in 1949 it opened when the “Big Eye,” the lens for the main telescope Hale, finally was ground to perfection. Since then it has been at the forefront in astronomical research for nearly 60 years.

 VIEWING

Encapsulated under a 200-inch dome — reminiscent of the Cupola at the Vatican — the observatory’s largest telescope Hale rests on Palomar Mountain, looking to the sky for answers in much the same fashion. Visitors can view the telescope from the gallery within the dome. Special guided tours allow visitors to take a closer look, but are only available on specific Saturdays to the general public and are best registered for through the observatory’s member’s group, “Friends.”

 HOURS

The Hale gallery at The Palomar Observatory is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The tours are self-guided. Bring a sweater as the dome is kept at nighttime temperatures. The gift shop is usually open Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

ADMISSION

Admission is free for gallery viewing. A special evening tour is available through Ruben H. Fleet Science Center on Oct. 20 for $65 as a member, and $75 for non-members. For details, www.rhfleet.org/site/astronomy/palomar.html.

 GETTING THERE

Take the 55 North to the 91 East toward Riverside. Take the I-15 South toward San Diego. Take the CA-79 exit and turn left at the CA-79. Continue to Pala Road/Pechanga Parkway and turn right. Pala Road will become CR-S16. Turn left at Pala Mission Road. Turn left at CA-76 and continue for 14 miles. Turn left at South Grande Road then a left at Canfield Road/CR-S6.

 ADAPTIVE OPTICS

The Palomar Observatory uses adaptive optics, a laser technique for looking through Earth’s atmosphere, which often acts like a film of dirt on a camera lens. Looking into space, the atmosphere often blurs causes a blur on pictures taken through it. Yet, with adaptive optics the blur is limited, allowing for a clear picture. The process involves choosing a star to help calibrate the corrections needed. The star is used as a guide, its image used to learn the corrections needed when looking at other images within its viewing proximity.

 OTHER TELESCOPES

Including the Hale, the observatory features seven telescopes. These include a 48-inch Samuel Oschin Telescope, which made notable supernova discoveries by capturing 183 explosive star deaths; a 60-inch telescope, which was dedicated in the 1970s in part to alleviate some of the star-gazing work from Hale; the Palomar Planet Finder (off-site) named “Sleuth,” the smallest telescope; and the baby of the group, the 24-inch telescope.

— Daniel Tedford