Palomar Observatory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palomar Observatory |
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Astronomer Jean Mueller posing with the Samuel Oschin Telescope (Schmidt Camera)
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| Organization | Caltech | ||||||||||||
| Location | San Diego County, California | ||||||||||||
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Coordinates
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33°21′21″N 116°51′50″W / 33.35583°N 116.86389°W
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| Altitude | 1,713 m (5,618 ft) | ||||||||||||
| Website Palomar at Caltech |
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The Palomar Observatory is a famous place in San Diego County, California, where scientists study space. It is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southeast of another observatory, Mount Wilson Observatory. This observatory sits high up on Palomar Mountain.
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) owns and runs the Palomar Observatory. It has several important telescopes. The biggest one is the 200-inch (5.08 meter) Hale telescope. There is also the 48-inch (1.22 meter) Samuel Oschin telescope, an 18-inch (457 millimeter) Schmidt telescope, and a 60-inch (1.52 meter) reflecting telescope. Another special tool there is the Palomar Testbed Interferometer. These telescopes help astronomers learn more about stars, planets, and galaxies far away.
What Does Palomar Mean?
The name Palomar comes from the Spanish language. It means pigeon house. There are two main ideas why the mountain got this name.
One idea is that many pigeons fly around Palomar Mountain. You can see them especially in the spring and autumn months.
Another idea is that the Spaniards built an old building there. This building was used for raising pigeons. So, the name might come from that old building.
Images for kids
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Palomar Mountain Observatory featured on a 1948 United States stamp
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The large dome that protects the Hale Telescope
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Another view of the Hale telescope dome
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A part of the Hale telescope inside the dome
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The 18-inch Schmidt Camera, which is no longer used
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The Greenway Visitor Center at Palomar Observatory, which has a gift shop
See also
In Spanish: Observatorio Palomar para niños
