Mount Wilson 100-inch Telescope Viewing Session
Mt. Wilson ObservatoryAbout this event
View the Universe Through Mount Wilson Observatory's Historic 100-inch Telescope
For the first half of the 20th Century, Mount Wilson was the most famous observatory in the world. The biggest telescopes were here, and their new designs were changing the way astronomy was done. Among the many discoveries made on the mountain, a few revolutionized our understanding of our place in the Universe. Here, for the first time, Harlow Shapley measured the size of the Milky Way Galaxy and located our position in it, far from the center. Then Edwin Hubble proved that the mysterious spiral nebulae, which astronomers had speculated about for decades, were in fact distant galaxies similar to our own. Then Hubble teamed up with Milton Humason and discovered that this immense Universe was expanding. Space itself was getting bigger. This finding, when run backwards in time, leads straight to the Big Bang Theory. So this is where modern cosmology began, and thus, in our long search for our origins, Mount Wilson holds a unique place in human history.
VIEWING THROUGH 100-INCH HOOKER TELESCOPE - AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME
This year Mt. Wilson celebrates the centennial of the world's largest telescope from 1917 to 1949. The 100-inch forever altered our understanding of the size and nature of the Universe and launched a revolution in astronomy that continues through today. This world-heritage class instrument, used by many of the greatest astronomers of the Twentieth Century, has only recently been made available for regular public viewing. Imagine looking through the telescope used by Edwin Hubble in the 1920s to measure the expansion of the Universe.
Hubble guiding Mount Wilson's 100-inch Telescope in 1924, shortly after he proved the existence of distant galaxies.
The Porsche Club – Grand Prix Region is pleased to announce that we have reserved a very special evening of viewing at the historic Mt. Wilson Observatory 100-inch telescope. July 29, 2017
Here are some photos from our 2014 viewing session at the 60-inch telescope.
Event requirements
Important Information - Please read
Event Cost - $175.00 per person
We are limited to the number of people, 18, that can attend a viewing session, so space is at a premium. If you are interested, please register as soon as possible. Attendees will be chosen on a first come first served basis, and there will be a waiting list. Minimum age for attendance is 12 years old.
There is limited parking at the observatory. Car-pooling will be required. When registering, please let us know if you are willing to take passengers, and how many. We will be meeting at approximately 3:30 PM at a restaurant in La Cañada before heading up the mountain. We will be able to leave cars at the meeting place.
Information on the meeting place will be provided via e-mail one to two weeks prior to the event. There will also be more information on “What you should know before leaving home”, and a "go or no go" phone number to call the day of the event, provided via email 2-3 weeks prior to the event.
We will be able to dine at the restaurant in La Cañada, and/or you may bring water and snacks into the observatory. The observatory provides hot water, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, cups and spoons.
Mount Wilson is in the San Gabriel Mountains of the Angeles National Forest of Southern California, approximately 33 miles from downtown Los Angeles. With an elevation of 5,700 ft., visitors with cardiac and respiratory concerns should be aware that access to the 100-inch dome and to the observing position at the telescope requires walking up stairs.
*** Please note that this event is being made available to a very limited number of PCA members. This will not be one of our typical “Fun Runs”, in that we are recommending that you DO NOT drive your Porsche, unless it's a Macan, Cayenne or Panamera. We are recommending attendees drive a sedan or SUV to this event. When we leave the mountain at 1:00 A.M., the roads are very dark, and there may be rocks or hazards on the roads going back down the hill.
For Questions please contact Jeff Peck at jbpeck@pacbell.net or call 310-345-8081