Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory
from a March 27, 2008 visit to Griffith Observatory by Chris and Ragna Blanco. All photos courtesy Christian Blanco.
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Obelisk One of the first sights at the Observatory is an obelisk dedicated to six of the greatest astronomers of all time: Hipparchus, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Herschel. Click for a larger version |
Sundial Just to the south of the obelisk of that is a beautiful sundial showing the time of day. Click for a larger version |
One Foot = 20,000,000 miles As you walk down the front pathway, you’ll notice brass lines inlaid into the cement, each labeled with a different planet’s name. Near to the entrance of the observatory is the Sun itself. Each planet’s orbit is laid out throughout the observatory’s grounds to a scale where one foot is equal to about 20,000,000 miles. Click for a larger version |
Pendulum a giant pendulum; set to swing from a bearing in the ceiling in order to show the Earth’s spin—the pendulum’s orientation appears to change as the earth turns. Click for a larger version |
Sundial for the Date The Observatory’s second sundial tells not the time, like most sundials, but instead the date. Click for a larger version |
Café at the End of the Universe For all the Douglas Adams fans, a good way to end your visit is a stop to admire the view from the Café at the End of the Universe. Click for a larger version |