Gallery

Big Bear Solar Observatory sits on the end of a 1,000 foot causeway in Big Bear Lake, high in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California. In preparation for the 1.6-meter New Solar Telescope, the old, smaller hemispherical dome was replaced with a larger 5/8 sphere made of fiberglass. The small dome to the left houses the Earthshine and Hα full-disk telescopes.

Second Closest Planet to Earth, next to Venus.  In 50 million years, it is likely that Mars will have a ring around it.  There is evidence there was water once.  The once strong magnetic field of Mars is now virtually gone. 

The Average shuttle weighs about 4.5 million pounds at liftoff.  It flies at a velocity of 17440 miles per hour.  The thrust of the shuttle is about 2,800,000 pounds.  They also can be very dangerous.

The Sun!!!!  Our own star...quite insignificant with respect to our vast universe, but to us it is the most important astronomical body.

Miscellaneous