Subject: The soft glow of the summer Milky Way illuminates the historic 60" reflector.
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 800 digital camera and Nikon F
Lens: Nikon 24mm f/5.6 for Milky Way image
Processing: Three separate exposures composited in Adobe Photoshop 4.0 using layers.
Location: Mt. Wilson Observatory, California
Date: 6/30/00
Comments: Located in the San Gabriel mountains of Southern California at 5710ft, the 60" reflector
at Mt. Wilson Observatory was first put into service in 1908. It was the largest telescope in the world
until the 100" Hooker reflector was built in 1917. While the 60" has provided decades of scientific
data, the light pollution of nearby Los Angeles has brightened the night sky over Mt. Wilson to almost
unusable levels.
While looking at the image, one must wonder how dark and pristine the skies over Mt. Wilson must have been in 1908.
An article concerning the construction of the 60" reflector can be found here.