Telescopes at the Top of the World

Because of same strange warp in the space-time continuum, many of us that used to live in the Netherlands now live in California.  We made the trip to LA to visit some of our awesome friends from the Netherlands, in a much warmer, much sunnier local.

Bram and I with Harish, Andrew, and Robyn

During our trip we made the voyage to Mount Wilson, high in the mountains overlooking LA.

Mount Wilson has some amazing and historical telescopes.  Thanks to its location high above the LA smog, the viewing here is still pretty good.   The biggest of the telescopes here is the 100 inch Hooker telescope, which was the largest telescope in the world until 1949.  (And for a point - what telescope surpassed it?)

This is the telescope that Edwin Hubble used made his discoveries that galaxies, then believed to be nebula rather than independent star systems, were actually receding from Earth - leading to observational evidence that the Universe is expanding.

These telescopes are the perfect size to be mounted on my house!  (hint hint!)

Enjoying the brisk clear air.

The solar observatory is also pretty neat.  It's located on the top of an 18 meter tower.  An image of the magnified sun is projected at the bottom of the tower on a table.

Looking over LA, Harish, Andrew, and Bram.

My Husband and the Wave

Our trip across the country was finally complete when we stuck our toes in the Pacific Ocean.  Our friend Shasta, who came all the way from Scotland, joined us for a trip down to the beach - specifically Half Moon Bay.  

The waves were especially large, and I have the feeling they only grow larger as the winter approaches!

We wanted some nice pictures with the waves...

But the knowledge of those giant waves just behind us kept us watching our backs.

We all know how this story ends - with my husband getting soaked.  

Still, that doesn't stop him.

He's so brave...

Shasta and Bram in the waves.

 Nothing but the beautiful beach before us...

And at the end of the day - wildlife!  A whole group of dolphins swim by, temporarily transfixing all those standing on the beach.