FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: Pilgrimage to Palomar

[chaz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

A couple of pics from Nov03 at Palomar. Beautiful drive up, except for dodging 
the motorcycles. Too bad I didn't know about contacting Bob Thickston before we 
went.
Quoting Dean Ketelsen <ketelsen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

> Hi All-
>       On my first trip to Palomar about 20 years ago, I tried to get a
> behind-the-scenes look by contacting one of the staff there.  Since I was
> coming off employment on Kitt Peak, I asked one of the astronomers on staff
> if he could provide a contact.  I was to contact Bob Thickston a day or
> two ahead, and as advertized, he met us at the visitor center, such as it
> was.  He led us thru the staff area and basement of the 200" where what
> appeared to be the originals of the Porter drawings lined the walls.  We
> walked across the observing floor and he turned on the lights for a couple
> pictures.  Then he led us, as well as the collected visitors from behind the
> viewing gallery to the outer catwalk, where he rotated the dome for us as we
> stood there, getting a 360 panorama of the mountaintop.  My next interest
> was in seeing the 48" Schmidt and I asked if it would be possible to see
> it, since there is no public access there.  He said he had to work on a 
> plumbing problem there, and to show up in 45 minutes.  At the appointed time
> we showed up and sure enough, only his feet stuck out from under the
> darkroom
> sink at the famous Schmidt.  He said "the scope is that way" and we were
> able
> to give ourselves a 15 minute exploration of the dome.  It was great having
> the personal guide, even though he didn't spend that much time with us.  The
> behind-the-glass access was very nice, though.
>       I met Bob again a year or so ago at a Site Manager's meeting here in
> Tucson as they toured the Mirror Lab, where I currently work.  He indicated
> that again, if I ever came by to give him a call, and I encourage any of you
> anticipating a trip to Palomar to do the same.  If his schedule allows it,
> I'm sure he would do the same for you.
> 
>                                       -Dean
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> 




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