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.All Trips / California / North America / Southwestern USA
The Griffith Observatory: Los Angeles’ Art Deco Treasure
One of Los Angeles’ most famous landmarks is the Griffith Observatory, which is situated on a hill (in massive Griffith Park) overlooking the Los Angeles basin. Designed to be an observatory of the planets and stars, it’s a beautiful Art Deco structure that houses space and science exhibitions and has a great planetarium.
While smog obscures the views from the Observatory most of the time, the place is especially memorable for its great views on a clear day like the one I had the …
.All Trips / Asia / India
Jantar Mantar — A Visit to the Royal Observatory of Jaipur
Jantar Mantar is a walled astronomical observation compound which adjoins the Royal Palace of Jaipur. It’s home to a collection of astronomical instruments — many massive — and was built in the eighteenth century by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh. The site was completed in 1734 and is an interesting hybrid of masonry, brass and science. Although it was abandoned in the 19th century and fell into disrepair, the site has been restored and is well preserved (the best in India). It is notable for being home to the world’s largest stone sundial, but I found all the instruments to be interesting.
Even a non-sophisticated or lay astronomer can have a sense of wonder at complexity of the instrumentation, and …
