New sun-driven cooling period of Earth ‘not far off’

EXPLOSIVE! Hillary FINALLY CAUGHT! Declassified CIA Docs Show MASSIVE CO...

A Day at the Observatory

After a week of sailing to Catalina Island and back, I took a detour to north LA. Griffith J Griffith on December 16, 1896, donated 3,015 acres of Rancho Los Felis to the City of Los Angeles in order to create a public park in his name. He bought Los Feliz after making his fortune in Mexican silver. Before his death in 1919 he donated $100,000 to establish an observatory for the public. Finally built in 1935 at the height of the depression. The finest materials and craftsmen were a bargain during this time. 2 million visitors a year passed through up until 2002 when a restoration and expansion was begun. Closed for four years when re-opened it was like new, but looked exactly the same from the outside as 1935.

Lots of movies have been filmed here. I didn't get a picture of James Dean's Bust, but Rebel Without a Cause filmed  several scenes here including the famous parking lot fight. Strangely,  Dean had seen a bust of  Marlon Brando and wanted one for himself. He commissioned the artist the night of his death.

Astronomers' Monument built with PWPA  New Deal (public works of art project) funds. LA Commissioned six local artists to do the six greats: Hipparchus, Copernicus, Galilei, Kepler, Newton, and Herschel. One of the artists, George Stanley, also did the "Oscar" statuettes.

The old LA Police Building stands out.

Downtown of a smoggy day.

Good place to bring a date.

"Camera Obscura-[ Latin for Dark Room] A Camera Obscura is a basic observing tool that uses mirrors and lenses to focus light onto a flat surface. Griffith Observatory's new Camera Obscura is a larger and more capable version of a previous exhibit. The current version features a periscope-like tube on the east side of the Observatory's roof , which reflects images down onto the Camera Obscura table. With its continuously rotating tube, the Camera Obscura provides a spectacular 360°- field view of Los Angeles vistas and reminds visitors that they have reached an observational junction of earth and sky. The Observatory's new Camera Obscura instrument was built by George Keene."- Griffith Website.

"The genesis of Griffith Observatory's public telescope occurred when Griffith J. Griffith was invited to visit to Mount Wilson Observatory, then home to the world's largest operating telescope, the 60-inch reflector. While there, he was given the opportunity to view a celestial wonder through the telescope. Profoundly moved by the experience, Griffith seized on the idea of constructing a public observatory with a telescope that could be used by all residents of Los Angeles. He specified in his will that the telescope was to be "at least 12-inches in diameter" and "complete in all its details" and was to be located "high and above the Hall of Science." In 1931, the Griffith Trust ordered the telescope from the Carl Zeiss Company of Jena, Germany; the $14,900 spent on the instrument was the first purchase of material for Griffith Observatory."-Griffith Website.

 The Samuel Oschin Planetarium roof. In 1935 this was the third Planetarium built in the US. After reconstruction the finest in all the Universe!

More chances to view Los Angeles below.

See the people on the roof, waiting for their turn on the 12-inch.

 Sky parties were cut short due to marine layer that sank in, though I saw Vega, Saturn, and the Moon before the clouds came. Vega was seen through the 12-inch Ziess during daylight, amazing!

 The Moon over Griffith.

At last, rush hour is over for the night trip home.

Ajo Air Force Station/Childs Mountain Tour

In the thousands of times I passed this turnoff, I'm always curios as to what's up there?

Well, now I know!

Road from AZ Hwy 85 Ten miles N. of Ajo

Thanks to the Cabeza Prieta Natural History Association for hosting tours of Childs Mountain. Otherwise locked to motor vehicles, hiking and biking are permitted.

Ajo, AZ in distance.

Altitude ranging(retired) and FAA dome

Constructed in the 50's as a part of the North American Early Warning Radar looking for the Red Menace. At one time more than 300 personnel and their families lived there. Quickly obsolete. Closed for good in 1971 and buildings razed and desert restored in the 90's.

Altitude Ranging Tower (only original structure remaining)

The views from the summit of just under 3000 ft. are awesome, with something interesting in all directions. To the East is the Ajo airport and Childs, the main water well for the mine (closed) and the city of Ajo. Batemote and Coffee Pot Mountains.

                        To the South FAA dome, Little Ajo Mountains, Black Peak and the Ajo Range.

To the Southwest you can see Charlie Bell Pass and thru to the Mexican Volcano Pinacate some 50 miles distant.   

                                                  Childs Valley dominates the view to the West.   
                                                             
                                                                                  


                                                

                     Northern antenna farm. The lookout is between FAA radar (dome) and these antennae.

                                                            With the passing light scenes change.

                                                                     A beautiful clear sky sunset!

                                            Not many people took advantage of the unlocked gate.

                                                                             Dome at dusk.

                                                                      Ajo at night from above.