On Thu, 25 Sep 2003 14:10:09 +0000 (UTC), "Mike Dworetsky"
wrote:

Longer ago than I wish to admit, I was a postdoc at Mt Wilson and Palomar
and there was an interesting 1/10 scale working model of the Palomar 200-in
on the roof at Cal Tech. I used it a few times. I recall that it was
originally built to test mechanical ideas used in the mounting of the big
scope (probably c. 1935-40).

Does anyone know if it is still there and in a usable state? Light
pollution was pretty fierce and LA basin air pollution did not help either,
but you could get a decent view of Saturn or Jupiter with it.

I used to use that scope, too. It was wonderful, being up on top of Robinson
with a real piece of history. It was an excellent performer, too, although quite
limited being in the middle of Pasadena.

Unfortunately, in what I consider a huge misjudgment, it got traded away to some
school somewhere in exchange for a C14. Terrible mistake. I've no idea where the
Hale model is these days, but not where it belongs, at Caltech.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com