BIG BEAR SOLAR OBSERVATORY
This amazing observatory is located at an altitude of 2,200 m on the north shore of Big Bear Lake in California, about 60 km east of the city of San Bernadino. It is a solar observatory, therefore dedicated exclusively to the observation and study of our star. Some will wonder why this surprising geographical site where the domes that make it up are located.... This is because the lake acts as an "atmospheric stabilizer" because of its ability to naturally cool the area and maintain it at a cool and stable temperature, even when the Sun is at its highest and "knocks" hard. The air layers located near the ground are therefore less hot, and therefore less agitated, and favour high-resolution images. The Big Bear Solar Observatory was built from 1968 to 1973 by the famous California Institute of Technology (Caltech); but for the past twenty years, it has been managed by the New Jersey Institute of Technology and partially funded by NASA and the US Air Force, hence its limited access (it is a private observatory). Among its main instruments is a recently installed 1.6 m diameter telescope, which is particularly impressive to discover during visits. These are done in droves: it is therefore important to do so well in advance to reserve your place.
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