Los Angeles from the San Gabriel mountains

On the way up 5,700-foot Mount Wilson, this view of distant LA with Pasadena in the foreground shows the mist/smog hanging over the city.

The 100″ Hooker telescope

This venerable reflecting telescope with its 100-inch mirror was state of the art in 1917. Its riveted steel construction is reminiscent of ships of the time, e.g. Titanic.

This was the largest telescope in the world from 1917 until 1949 when the 200-inch came online. Edwin Hubble used spectra from this scope to show that the universe is expanding.
Because of light pollution from LA it is no longer used for research but has been modified to allow the public access for visual observing – imagine the view through a 100-inch scope!

Control Desk for the 100″ telescope

The control desk for the Hooker reflector. Some of the equipment appears to be original 1917 kit! The entire platform on which the desk sits moves as the dome rotates – quite a disorienting experience.