Los Angeles was once the best place in the world to see the universe.
The most important things we know about the cosmos were discovered in the early 20th century at Mt. Wilson Observatory. It was here, 100 years ago, that Edwin Hubble noted a light in the distance that would lead to one of science's greatest discoveries.
But as the 100th anniversary of Mt. Wilson's greatest discovery approaches this week, those most dedicated to the historic and scientific treasure could use a breakthrough of their own. "His philosophy was to go to the best possible place, where the air was steady and the skies were dark ... build the cutting-edge instruments like had never been built before, and hire the very best people he could to use them," said Hal McAlister, professor emeritus of astronomy at Georgia State University and a former executive director of the Mt. Wilson Institute, that now manages the observatory."He achieved all three.
Over the following weeks, as Hubble peered closely at the image, he noticed three distinct points of light in the fuzzy cloud of stars, rather than the single one he expected to see. He marked each with an N, for nova. Andromeda was not another star in our galaxy, but a galaxy all its own. In a flash of light, the universe had become an infinitely vaster and more interesting place.
The office for Carnegie Observatories still occupies its original space in Pasadena, a 1912 building with a book-lined library, a large portrait of Hale and a photograph of Albert Einstein posing next to the same portrait of Hale in the same book-lined library. Despite its august place in scientific history, Mt. Wilson was no longer the best place on Earth to do astronomy. Carnegie pulled its funding from the observatory and closed the big telescope in June 1985.
Carnegie's agreement with the U.S. Forest Service stipulates that the observatory must remain an active site for research, astronomy or education—or be dismantled down to its last historic bolt. Volunteers built modern digital tracking and driving systems to steer the 60- and 100-inch telescopes. They lubricate the telescopes and operate them on public viewing nights. They maintain century-old electrical wiring and repair machinery erected when Woodrow Wilson was president.
Given the shoestring nature of its operations, they haven't been able to expand much upon what Carnegie left behind. A small museum is tidy but dated. The text next to an image of Halley's Comet refers to its 1986 appearance in the future tense. In 2021, the institute commissioned architectural drawings of an improved Mt. Wilson Observatory, one that maintains its historic feel with just enough upgrades to ensure that visitors get the most from their visit.
The skill set of Mt. Wilson's volunteers tends toward engineering and education; fundraising and marketing, less so. The institute attracts people who are far more comfortable talking about stellar parallaxes or maintaining century-old gears than schmoozing with donors or generating buzz. "There's a magic about this mountain," said Sam Hale, chairman and CEO of the institute and a grandson of the observatory's founder.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Saving Selma: Clean up efforts move forward at cemetery - WAKA 8Montgomery, Alabama
Read more »
Jets' Quinton Jefferson ready to test his Russell Wilson training: 'No QB as athletic'In the early stages of Quinton Jefferson’s career, back when the Jets’ defensive tackle tried to earn snaps with the Seahawks as a fifth-round pick out of Maryland, he had the ideal situation for l…
Read more »
Jets' Garrett Wilson ready for Patrick Surtain II test: 'he's really good'The introduction for Garrett Wilson came in college.
Read more »
Phillies add Michael Lorenzen to NLDS roster; Weston Wilson is outAfter cutting back to 12 pitchers for wild-card series, the Phillies recalibrated for the divisional round against the Braves’ juggernaut offense.
Read more »
Zach Wilson needs to show Jets he can be more than one-hit wonderThe ask of Zach Wilson is to be the better quarterback when he duels Russell Wilson and Sean Payton’s Broncos in Sunday’s Hackett Bowl.
Read more »