Observatory Closure Notice The observatory will be closed to the public on Wednesday, 11/5, and Thursday, 11/6 while the 200-inch mirror is cleaned and re-aluminized. ✨ This special aluminizing process only happens every two years and is essential for keeping the telescope performing at its best. What is the aluminizing process like? It involves carefully removing, cleaning, and coating the giant mirror with a thin layer of aluminum to ensure maximum reflectivity — a truly fascinating behind-the

The Hale Telescope dome is the central feature on the Palomar Observatory compound, and a grand expression of architecture and engineering in its own right. Any development as large as the Hale dome has many contributors, and a team of nearly 100 workers were active for three years (1936-1938) realizing the Hale dome vision. Key contributions were made by Russell Porter who served as observatory principal architect, dome lead engineer Mark Serrurier, the dome steel structure contractor Consolida

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