Samuel Oschin telescope

The Samuel Oschin telescope is a Schmidt-type camera on Palomar Mountain equipped with a 48-inch corrector lens and a large mirror designed for capturing wide views of the sky. The instrument uses specialized optics to photograph expansive regions of the night sky in a single exposure.

Construction began in 1939 and the telescope was completed in 1948, later renamed in 1986 to honor philanthropist Samuel Oschin. Its decades-long span of operation bridges mid-20th-century instrumentation with subsequent technological improvements.

The telescope archive maintains 19,000 photographic glass plates dating from 1949, representing decades of astronomical observations and scientific documentation.

The observatory sits on a high mountain providing dark skies suitable for observations throughout the year. Visitors should prepare for cooler temperatures, especially during evening observing hours.

Unlike typical telescopes, this instrument works exclusively as a camera without an eyepiece for visual viewing. This design enabled discoveries including the dwarf planet Eris and numerous supernovae across distant galaxies.

Location: San Diego County

Part of: Palomar Mountain Observatory

GPS coordinates: 33.35731,-116.85982

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:04