In case you missed it, California trip part 1 is here.
Before arriving in California, there was a scheme to go to Disneyland. After a lot of discussion between me, my youngest brother and my dad, I decided against it. I’ll do Disneyland another time, in the winter, when the crowds are smaller.
I had to decide an alternative. So I pulled out the iPad and pored over the topographic maps looking for natural features to visit, which are not plentiful in southern California. They specialize in man-made malls and beaches.
I came across Mount Palomar. I don’t recall ever going there when I was a kid, so this was something new. I consulted the website and saw that the observatory was open on weekdays, but without guided tours. So my brother Darryl and I drove up to check it out.
Observatory dome for Hale 200 inch telescope.
The weather was quite warm that day and it was a 20 degrees cooler at this elevation. There are several telescopes on Mt. Palomar, but only the largest is open to the public during the day. We visited the visitor center and then walked over to the dome housing the Hale 200 inch telescope. The dome is 12 stories high. I neglected to take any photos inside, but there are some pictures and drawings here. The total number of tourists visiting the telescope: 4.
