Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO) , observatory code "672" is an astronomical observatory on (height 1742 meters), northwest of Los Angeles , California .
Mount Wilson's air is calmer than in other parts of North America, making it an ideal place for astronomical observations, in particular for interferometry . The growth of Greater Los Angeles has significantly limited the laboratory's ability to explore deep space, but it still remains a productive place for scientific research.
The observatory was officially opened on December 8, 1908 . The first director of the observatory was George Ellery Hale . To date, the laboratory has two reflector telescopes (60-inch and 100-inch), three solar telescopes , as well as a number of interferometric devices.
Content
100-inch Hawker telescope
A decisive role in financing the construction of the 100-inch telescope was played by John Hawker. For the manufacture of mirrors, the Sant Goban factory was chosen. In 1906 , the production of mirrors began, and ended only in 1908 . At the stage of manufacturing the telescope, significant difficulties arose, even the option of manufacturing the mirror anew was considered. In 1917, a new 100-inch reflex telescope was installed at the observatory with a 258 cm diameter main glass mirror and a trellised tube. For a long time, it remained the largest telescope in the world until, after World War II , it was surpassed by the 200-inch reflector of the Mount Palomar Observatory . The telescope was completely completed on November 2, 1917 . The price is $ 42,000.
Famous employees
- Hubble, Edwin
- Deutsch, Armin
- Joy Alfred Harrison
- Pettit, Edison
- Pease, Francis Gladheim
- Richie, George Willis
See also
- Astronomical observatories
Literature
- Kravchuk P.A. Records of nature. - L .: Scrabble, 1993 .-- 216 p. - 60,000 copies. - ISBN 5-7707-2044-1 .
- Siegel F.Yu. Astronomy in its development. - M .: "Enlightenment", 1988. - 159 p. - 100,000 copies.