Palomar in Science Fiction - IV

The 1951 sci-fi disaster movie When Worlds Collide offers up the end of the Earth. In it a star with a planet of its own hurls into the solar system bringing our planet to its doom.

In the film the discovery is made at the Mt. Kenna Observatory in South Africa. Have a look at the Mt. Kenna Observatory. Does it look familiar to you?


Clearly both of the matt paintings were based on the 200-inch Hale Telescope at Palomar.

Here's a short clip for you:

The movie is available on DVD. If you watch you'll also see a background painting showing the 100-inch Hooker Telescope on Mt. Wilson.