LOS ANGELES — Long before there was a Griffith Observatory, there was a Mount Wilson Observatory. It is located in the San Gabriel mountains near Pasadena, and the astronomical observatory houses some of the largest historic telescopes of the 20th Century.
What You Need To Know
- Mount Wilson is credited as the site where Edwin Hubble detected the expanding universe
- "It is the place where the modern universe was discovered" - Dr. Krupp
- Firefighters have so far been able to protect the observatory from the Bobcat Fire
As the Bobcat Fire continues to burn, the fear of losing Mount Wilson Observatory grows, but so far, firefighters have succeeded in protecting it.
Dr. Krupp, who is the director of the Griffith Observatory, said losing Mount Wilson would be a huge loss to science and culture.
“Mt. Wilson isn’t just a collection of historic telescopes and domes. It in fact ought to be a national monument. It is the place where the modern universe was discovered,” he explained.
The importance of Mount Wilson can even be seen inside the Griffith Observatory, where there is a model exhibit which displays California’s roots as the hub for astronomy. Mount Wilson is credited as the site where Edwin Hubble detected the expanding universe.
“Losing something like the Mt. Wilson Observatory, it’s kind of like losing the Washington Monument, Congress, the White House. It is one of the great monuments of the world,” said Dr. Krupp.
A recent time-lapse display shows just how close the Bobcat Fire is to Mount Wilson. The dry vegetation is ideal for fires, the high altitude, perfect for star gazing.
“This is part of all of us. It’s all of our benefit to retain these mementos of how we got to be where we are. And that’s what Mt. Wilson is all about,” said Dr. Krupp.
Grateful to the bravery of first responders, Dr. Krupp continues to wait and hope for the flames to fade.