When Evert heard that a group of astronomers at Lockheed was planning to rent an evening of viewing on the historic 60 inch telescope on Mt. Wilson, he didn’t hesitate to sign up. We both went on the trip, thinking we’d probably view till midnight or so and then bed down in the back of our truck. As it turned out we were up all night viewing and decided to just head north to home about the time the sun was rising. It was a long day and night, but worth the loss of sleep.
George Ellery Hale, who had earlier established the Yerkes Observatory, established Mount Wilson in 1904 as a solar observing station. He had been a key figure in building the 40 inch telescope at Yerkes and was similarly instrumental for the building of the 60 inch reflector built at Mount Wilson in 1908 and the 100 inch Hooker Telescope built there in 1917. When each was built, they were the largest reflecting telescope in the world. In 1918 a 100 inch reflector was put into service and it became the most powerful telescope in the world. Using this telescope, Edwin Hubble determined the distance to the Andromeda Galaxy in 1924.
George Ellery Hale, who had earlier established the Yerkes Observatory, established Mount Wilson in 1904 as a solar observing station. He had been a key figure in building the 40 inch telescope at Yerkes and was similarly instrumental for the building of the 60 inch reflector built at Mount Wilson in 1908 and the 100 inch Hooker Telescope built there in 1917. When each was built, they were the largest reflecting telescope in the world. In 1918 a 100 inch reflector was put into service and it became the most powerful telescope in the world. Using this telescope, Edwin Hubble determined the distance to the Andromeda Galaxy in 1924.