Some images of the terrific Mt. Wilson Observatory. Established in 1904 by George Ellery Hale. Home to what were, at their time, five of the world’s largest telescopes.

Top left – the LA basin covered by the coastal marine layer. Middle – the same layer moves up through the trees at the 5700′ peak of Mt. Wilson. Top right – inside the dome the cage of the Hooker 100″ scope is reflected on the interior of the dome. Lower left – the 150′ solar scope open to the sun. Lower middle – some greasy clockworks left out near the 100″ scope. Lower right – the famous glass bubbles of the 100″ mirror. When the glass was first received from glassworks in France, Hale sent word that it was unacceptable. Because of the size of the blank, it had to be poured in layers. The cooling resulted in these bubbles. Other blanks were made that came out worse, eventually Hale used this one. And it changed our understanding of the universe.