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44-526: Bronson Canyon is located in the southwest section of Griffith Park near the north end of Canyon Drive, which is an extension of Bronson Avenue. In 1903, the Union Rock Company founded a quarry , originally named Brush Canyon , for excavation of crushed rock used in the construction of city streets–carried out of the quarry by electric train on the Brush Canyon Line . The quarry ceased operation in

88-504: A B.S. degree, he married Ada McClelland. The couple had one child, Helen. Dinsmore performed his graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh , and earned a master's in astronomy with additional studies in the field of meteorology. In 1911, he became an instructor at the University of Alabama , teaching physics and astronomy. The following year he became an assistant professor, then an adjunct professor in 1913. In 1914, he moved to

132-491: A Tesla coil and a "Camera Obscura", which uses mirrors and lenses to focus light onto a flat surface. The Ahmanson Hall of the Sky, located in the west wing, focuses on objects that are normally found in the sky, like the Sun and Moon. The main centerpiece of this section is a large solar telescope projecting images of the Sun, using a series of mirrors called coelostats. Exhibits here include

176-495: A distance. On display at the Observatory is a large Tesla coil , named for its inventor, Nikola Tesla . Dubbed "GPO-1", it is one of a pair which were built in 1910 by Earle Ovington . Ovington, who would go on to fame as an aviator, ran a company which built high voltage generators for medical X-ray and electrotherapy devices. In public demonstrations of his generators, the spectacular displays drew crowds. Ovington designed

220-483: A high-resolution immersive video projected by an innovative laser system developed by Evans and Sutherland Corporation, along with a short night sky simulation projected by the Zeiss Universarium. A team of animators, directed by observatory art director Don Dixon who also co-wrote the script, worked more than two years to create the 30-minute program. Actors, holding a glowing orb, perform the presentation, under

264-543: A lonely southwestern wilderness. Scenes of the main cave entrance are normally filmed in a manner that shows the entrance at an angle because the cave is actually a very short tunnel through the hill, with the rear opening easily visible in a direct shot. The most well-known appearance of the tunnel entrance is likely its use as the entrance to the Batcave in the 1966–68 Batman television series. Because so many films, in practically every genre, have had scenes filmed there over

308-499: A member of the army reserve following the war, training at Fort MacArthur , Los Angeles . His earlier studies had focused on solar observation, but after the war he concentrated on the Moon . As his expertise increased, he became an authority on the geology of the Moon, including its surface and history. He also remained involved in astronomy research, and in 1950 he served a term as president of

352-469: A periodic table of the elements, a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, and several alcoves showing exhibits about topics like day and night, the paths of the Sun and stars, the seasons, the phases of the Moon, tides, and eclipses. The W. M. Keck Foundation Central Rotunda features several Hugo Ballin murals on the ceiling and upper walls restored since 1934, a Foucault pendulum that demonstrates the Earth's rotation, and

396-488: A public bond issue, restored the building, as well as replaced the aging planetarium dome. The building was expanded underground, with completely new exhibits, a café, gift shop, and the new Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater. On May 25, 2008, the Observatory offered visitors live coverage of the Phoenix landing on Mars . Ed Krupp has been the director of the Observatory since 1974. He has been responsible for updating

440-501: A small exhibit dedicated to Griffith J. Griffith, after whom the observatory is named. The Cosmic Connection is a 150 ft long hallway connecting the main building and the underground exhibition areas (see below) that depicts the history of the universe, and dramatizes the amount of time that has passed from the Big Bang to the present day, using hundreds of individual pieces of astronomy-related jewelry. The Gunther Depths of Space Hall

484-710: Is split up into six sections: The Wilder Hall of the Eye, the Ahmanson Hall of the Sky, the W. M. Keck Foundation Central Rotunda, the Cosmic Connection, the Gunther Depths of Space Hall, and the Edge of Space Mezzanine. The Wilder Hall of the Eye, located in the east wing of the main level focuses on astronomical tools like telescopes and how they evolved over time so people can see further into space. Interactive features there include

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528-637: Is the lower level of the observatory, dominated by "The Big Picture," and scale models of the Solar System . The planets (including dwarf planet Pluto) are shown relative to the size of the Sun, which is represented by the diameter of the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater. Below each planet are listed facts, as well as scales indicating a person's weight on planets having a solid surface (or weight at an altitude where atmospheric pressure would equal one bar otherwise). In addition, beneath

572-651: The Astronomical Society of the Pacific . In 1956, he used the 60" reflector at the Mount Wilson Observatory to observe a peculiar obscuration on part of the floor of Alphonsus crater , which brought him worldwide notice. (This is a class of events now called a transient lunar phenomenon .) During 1958, he reached mandatory retirement age, and was officially retired on March 31 and was succeeded by Clarence H. Cleminshaw , who had been associate director of

616-577: The Griffith Observatory . A year later he resigned his professorship to remain director at the observatory. He also served as a research associate at Caltech in Pasadena during the same period. After the U.S. entered the Second World War , Dr. Alter took a leave from his position to serve in the armed forces for four years. He became a colonel and served in a transport division. He remained

660-565: The Million Volt Oscillator , was installed in the band balcony overlooking the arena. At the top of each hour the lights in the main hall were shut off, and sparks would shoot from the copper ball atop the coil to a matching coil 122 inches away, or to a wand held by an assistant. The chief engineer of the General Electric Company estimated that the discharges were at least 1.3 million volts. Ovington, who died in 1936, gave

704-637: The Solar System , and eclipses. The planetarium theater was renovated in 1964 and a Mark IV Zeiss projector was installed. The Café at the End of the Universe, an homage to Restaurant at the End of the Universe , is one of the many cafés run by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck . One wall inside the building is covered with the largest astronomically accurate image ever constructed (152 feet (46 m) long by 20 feet (6.1 m) high), called "The Big Picture", depicting

748-577: The University of California in Berkeley , teaching astronomy while also studying for his doctorate. He gained his Ph.D. in astronomy in 1916. By 1917, he became an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Kansas . However, when the United States entered World War I , he took time off to serve as a major in the United States Army . After returning home following the war, he rejoined

792-468: The Virgo Cluster of galaxies; visitors can explore the highly detailed image from within arm's reach or through telescopes 60 feet (18 m) away. In 2006 the 1964-vintage Zeiss Mark IV star projector was replaced with a Zeiss Mark IX Universarium. The former planetarium projector is part of the underground exhibit on ways in which humanity has visualized the skies. Centered in the Universe features

836-534: The Earth's model, there is a small room containing a large model Earth globe, an older Zeiss planetarium projector, and a set of seismograph rolls, including one tracking room motion caused by occupants. The other rolls are attached to seismographs monitoring movement at the bedrock level, and indicate actual seismic activity. On the north wall of the Depths of Space is "The Big Picture", a 150 feet (46 m) by 20 feet (6.1 m) photograph (the largest astronomical image in

880-531: The Observatory's coil to surpass a coil made by Elihu Thomson in 1893 which generated a 64-inch spark. ( Tesla had secretly produced much larger sparks in 1899.) The project caught the attention of an Edison Electric Illuminating Company official, who offered $ 1,000 if the coil were displayed at an upcoming electrical show in Madison Square Garden , with the stipulation that the machine would produce sparks not less than ten feet long. The machine, dubbed

924-623: The Observatory, with views of the Pacific Ocean , the Hollywood Sign and Downtown Los Angeles . The observatory was featured in two major sequences of the James Dean film Rebel Without a Cause (1955), which helped to make it an international emblem of Los Angeles. A bust of Dean was subsequently placed at the west side of the grounds. It has also appeared in a number of other movies, including: The Observatory has appeared in episodes of

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968-614: The University of Kansas and remained at that institution for nearly 20 years. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1919, then professor in 1924. From 1925 until 1927, he served as the vice-president of the American Meteorological Society . He was then awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship scholarship and spent two years studying astronomy in Britain . In 1935, he took a leave from the University of Kansas and became director of

1012-536: The Vermont/Sunset Metro Red Line station to the Observatory, including a stop at the nearby Greek Theater, which can be used as a free parking area when there are no concerts. When parking at the Greek Theater parking lot on nights there are no concerts, visitors can choose to take trails up to the observatory (primarily by using the sidewalk along the road that leads up to the observatory) or by taking

1056-419: The building and grounds of Griffith Observatory is free of charge. Planetarium shows at the Observatory are offered eight times a day on weekdays and ten times a day on weekends. A nominal fee is charged for admission to the planetarium shows. As long as the weather permits, the Observatory offers free public telescope viewing every night the observatory is open - usually beginning at 7:00 p.m. This includes

1100-409: The bus that runs up the road and drops visitors off right outside the observatory grounds. The bus can be quite congested at peak times of the day but only takes about 5 minutes to reach the top. Walking the distance from the parking lot at the Greek Theater to the top would take approximately 15–20 minutes. The observatory is closed on Mondays. There are photo opportunities and scenery at and around

1144-406: The direction of Chris Shelton. Tickets for the show are purchased separately at the box office within the observatory. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Children under 5 are free, but are admitted to only the first planetarium show of the day. Only members of the observatory's support group, Friends of the Observatory, may reserve tickets for the planetarium show. The observatory

1188-453: The donated land. Griffith's objective was to make astronomy accessible to the public, as opposed to the prevailing idea that observatories should be located on remote mountaintops and restricted to scientists. Griffith drafted detailed specifications for the observatory. In drafting the plans, he consulted with Walter Sydney Adams , the future director of Mount Wilson Observatory , and George Ellery Hale , who founded (with Andrew Carnegie )

1232-504: The first astrophysical telescope in Los Angeles. As a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, construction began on June 20, 1933, using a design developed by architects John C. Austin and Frederic Morse Ashley (1870–1960), based on preliminary sketches by Russell W. Porter . The observatory and accompanying exhibits were opened to the public on May 14, 1935, as the country's third planetarium. In its first five days of operation

1276-399: The first lunar missions. Griffith Observatory Foundation was chartered in 1978 as Friends of the Observatory. It was founded by Debra Griffith and Harold Griffith (the grandson of the observatory's benefactor) with Dr. E.C. Krupp (the current Observatory Director) and a small group of dedicated partners. The foundation supports the observatory in its mission of public astronomy and advocated

1320-575: The following TV shows: Dinsmore Alter Dinsmore Alter (March 28, 1888 – September 20, 1968) was an American astronomer , meteorologist , and United States Army officer. He is known for his work with the Griffith Observatory and his creation of a lunar atlas. He was born in Colfax, Washington , and attended college at Westminster College in Pennsylvania . After graduating in 1909 with

1364-423: The front lawn of the Observatory that pays homage to six of the greatest astronomers of all time: Hipparchus (about 150 BC); Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543); Galileo Galilei (1564–1642); Johannes Kepler (1571–1630); Isaac Newton (1642–1727); and William Herschel (1738–1822). The 1934 New Deal artwork , which was a collaboration between six local artists, is topped with an armillary sphere . Admission to

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1408-452: The historic 12" Zeiss Refracting Telescope on the roof, and up to four portable telescopes placed outside offering views of visible celestial objects for the night. At 9:30 p.m., the doors to the Zeiss dome close, and lines for the portable telescopes outside stop allowing guests into the queues - though the lines may close earlier on the busier nights. In poor weather, the roof may be closed to

1452-468: The last 100 years, the impression of a wide mountainous area has been created in film viewer's minds. In fact the canyon is a rather small v-shaped area with the caves in the middle apex. 34°07′22″N 118°18′56″W  /  34.12287°N 118.31550°W  / 34.12287; -118.31550 Griffith Observatory Griffith Observatory is an observatory in Los Angeles, California , on

1496-672: The late 1920s, leaving the caves behind. The caves became known as the Bronson Caves after the nearby avenue and a hill of that name, giving the area its more popular name of Bronson Canyon. The same street may have indirectly provided the stage name for actor Charles Bronson , as the former Charles Buchinsky is believed to have chosen that name in 1954 after seeing it on a street sign in Hollywood. The craggy quarry remains are pockmarked by what appear to be cave openings, and therefore create an ideal backdrop for filming scenes meant to take place in

1540-487: The matching Tesla coils to his old electrotherapy colleague Frederick Finch Strong, who in 1937 donated them to Griffith Observatory. The Observatory had room to exhibit only one of the pair. By this time the machine was missing parts, so Observatory staffer Leon Hall restored it with the notable assistance of Hollywood special effects expert Kenneth Strickfaden who designed the special effects for Frankenstein (1931) among many other movies. The Astronomers Monument on

1584-456: The observatory include a display on evolution which was accomplished with the Cosmochron exhibit which included a narration from Caltech Professor Chester Stock and an accompanying slide show. The evolution exhibit existed from 1937 to the mid-1960s. Also included in the original design was a planetarium under the large central dome. The first shows covered topics including the Moon, worlds of

1628-524: The observatory logged more than 13,000 visitors. Dinsmore Alter was the museum's director during its first years. The building combines Greek and Beaux-Arts influences, and the exterior is embellished with the Greek key pattern . During World War II, the planetarium was used to train pilots in celestial navigation. The planetarium was again used for this purpose in the 1960s to train Apollo program astronauts for

1672-575: The observatory's opening in 1935, in accordance with the benefactor's will. Since its opening, over 9 million people have looked through the 12-inch (30.5 cm) Zeiss refracting scope , making it the most viewed telescope in the world. The space theme prevails in the interior. On December 16, 1896, 3,015 acres (12.20 km ) of land surrounding the observatory was donated to the City of Los Angeles by Griffith J. Griffith . In his will he donated funds to build an observatory, exhibit hall, and planetarium on

1716-554: The public, but if still accessible under overcast skies, the Zeiss Telescope can still be visited as an exhibit during viewing hours. There is a small parking lot next to the Observatory, plus more spaces along Western Canyon Rd, which require payment of $ 8–10 an hour, depending on the season. During busier times, the roads can get congested and limit access to the top. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) operates daily low cost DASH Observatory public bus service from

1760-400: The restoration and expansion of the observatory. The foundation continues to promote the observatory as an agent of science literacy, education, and experiential astronomy. The observatory closed on January 6, 2002, for renovation and a major expansion of exhibit space. It reopened to the public on November 2, 2006, retaining its Art Deco exterior. The $ 93 million renovation, paid largely by

1804-636: The south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park . It commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin including Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. The observatory is a popular tourist attraction with a close view of the Hollywood Sign and an extensive array of space and science-related displays. It is named after its benefactor, Griffith J. Griffith . Admission has been free since

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1848-494: The technology and the building for over 45 years. The first exhibit visitors encountered in 1935 was the Foucault pendulum , which was designed to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. The exhibits also included a 12-inch (305mm) Zeiss refracting telescope in the east dome, a triple-beam coelostat (solar telescope) in the west dome, and a thirty-eight foot relief model of the moon's north polar region. Griffith requested that

1892-473: The visual area of space that is captured in The Big Picture. The Edge of Space Mezzanine, which overlooks the Depths of Space Hall, focuses more on astronomy related topics that involve celestial bodies much closer to Earth, with exhibits including meteorite displays, an asteroid impact simulator, cloud and spark chambers, a large globe of the Moon, and telescopes that allow inspection of The Big Picture from

1936-415: The world) showing a portion of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies at an angular scale of 0.1 degree per foot. This image was taken over the course of 11 nights by the 48-inch Samuel Oschin telescope at Palomar Mountain . There is also a bronze statue of Albert Einstein sitting on a bench in the Depths of Space. Einstein is holding his index finger about 1 foot (0.30 m) in front of his eyes, to illustrate

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