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After making my first trek to Palomar Observatory two weeks ago, I found myself  heading back up the mountain once again, as an invited guest of Palomar Observatory’s Public Affairs Coordinator, Scott Kardel.  Scott invited me, along with four Celestron Representatives, to watch the advanced screening of Todd and Robin Mason’s award winning documentary film “The Journey to Palomar.”  Accompanying me to watch this film included Celestron’s Derek Wallentinsen, Tech Support Representative; Mark Vescera, Tech Support Representative; Corey Lee, Vice-President of Engineering and Jason Fournier, Product Development Manager. 

We arrived at Palomar Observatory just after noon and were brought to the main telescope level where hors d’oeuvres were served to the guests.  Our seats were almost directly beneath the “star” of the film - the 200″ Hale Telescope.  We literally gasped in amazement as we were dwarfed by the telescope’s sheer size and solid, well engineered structure.  A projection screen was mounted directly in front of us, which turned the observatory into a temporary movie theater.  I couldn’t help but draw comparisons with our seating arrangements with the famous black and white photograph showing guests seated beneath the 200″ Hale Telescope during the opening ceremony many decades ago.

For more than five years, the filmmakers, Todd and Robin Mason, researched the history of Palomar Observatory, the life of George Ellery Hale, and the goals he fulfilled which created some of the world’s best known observatories - The Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin, Mount Wilson Observatory in California and the 200″ Hale Telescope on Mount Palomar, California.  “The Journey to Palomar” also covered the creation of the 200″ mirror, from its beginnings in Corning, NY, to its cross country train ride out west, to finally reaching its destination at Mount Palomar and everything else inbetween.   Without giving away too much information, this film is very thorough and very informative.  Palomar fans will no doubt be in for special treat when this film is broadcast nationwide on PBS during the week of November 10, 2008.  Please check local listing for airings in your respective area. 

After the screening concluded, guests showed their approval of the film with a loud applause and watched as the dome opened on cue.  It’s as if George Ellery Hale’s spirit was controlling the telescope and was voicing his own personal approval towards the film.  A question and answer session with the filmmakers then took place immediately followed by a short presentation of the future 30 Meter Telescope project.  I’m sure George Ellery Hale would’ve been proud to see how far telescope technology has evolved since his era. 

Proceeds for “The Journey to Palomar” will benefit the observatory’s up-and-coming Public Outreach Facility, which will provide a venue for outreach projects and telescope viewing for the general public.  Before we departed, we presented a NexStar 130 SLT to Scott Kardel and Palomar Observatory, which we feel will help them get a good start towards educating and inspiring the public, especially children, with astronomy awareness.  Celestron would like to thank Scott Kardel, the staff at Palomar Observatory and Todd and Robin Mason for allowing us to be a part of the advanced screening of “The Journey to Palomar.”  We give it a big thumbs up and highly recommend the film to anyone interested with the history of Palomar Observatory.