On Top of the World

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to again visit the top of the dome for the 200-inch Hale Telescope. The atmosphere was remarkably transparent and I managed to snap a few quick photos as I panned around. Here are two hastily assembled panoramas from the visit. Be sure to click on them to enlarge the view.



From left to right in the first shot are the snow covered peaks of San Gorgonio and San Jacinto; the ladder and lightning rod on top of the dome; and the dome for the 48-inch Samuel Oschin Telescope with Palomar's High Point beyond that.


The second panorama is immediately to the left of the first. The Warner Springs area is in the valley with the San Ysidro Mountains beyond. Between the domes for the 18-inch Schmidt and 60-inch telescopes lies the Mendenhall Valley with in the background Volcan Mountain beyond. The ridge on the right, behind the 60", is part of Palomar Mountain.

As soon as I get the chance to put them together I'll post the rest of the view.