Palomar Observatory

1928 - a grant is secured, partly by George Ellery Hale, for "...the construction of an observatory, including a 200-inch reflecting telescope...". 1934 - Palomar Mountain, 100 miles southeast of Pasadena, California is eventually selected as the location for the new observatory. 1936 - construction begins on the dome. 1937 - components for the telescope are constructed all over America before being shipped to Palomar. 1941 - work on the observatory halts because most of the engineers and scientists, as well as their laboratories, are reassigned to war-related projects. 1947 - the 200 inch mirror is transported to Palomar. 1948 - observatory dedicated although not yet fully operational. 1949 - full time observing begins and Edwin Hubble takes the first photographic exposure.