Mount Wilson Observatory 150-Foot Solar Tower Telescope - Astronomical Observatories on Waymarking.com

The 150-foot solar tower telescope was constructed to study the position, strength, and polarity of magnetic fields on the Sun. These measurements have been made since 1912, a record that allows long-term changes related to the 11-year sunspot cycle to be tracked.

The telescope is constructed vertically to take advantage of the steadier air above the Sun-baked ground. The central shaft is a conduit for the sunlight to travel from the mirrors and lens located at the top of the telescope to the instrumentation below.

The Solar Cycle Program is a long-term project at UCLA that uses this facility to provide high-quality maps of the Sun's activity on a daily basis.

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Observatory Purpose: Research Optical / Infrared Telescopes?: Yes Radio Telescopes?: No Solar Telescopes?: Yes Open to the Public?: Yes Is this a Club Observatory?: No Public Viewing Allowed?: No Active Observatory?: Active Number of Telescopes or Antennas: 1 Site URL: [Web Link] Year Dedicated or Opened: 1912 Altitude (meters): 1783

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Date Logged Log User Rating   08/09/2009 shell1fish visited it 02/29/2004 showbizkid visited it

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