Griffith Observatory is a famous landmark in Los Angeles which has been featured in such classic films like REBEL WITOUT A CAUSE,
TRANSFORMERS,
and I'm sure quite a few other movies since it's a cheap location in a park close to Hollywood.
One can tell from the heroic paintings on the ceiling
that this is a building for the people. These flying buttresses,
and Atlas,
support a structure of SCIENCE, Science which is made from Greek ideals,
and easy access to the community and the masses,
back before folks were too busy playing on their phones to think about stuff like this.
The Griffth Observatory opened in 1935 so they have ridiculously dangerous/crazy exhibits like this lying around:
as well as low-key nerd stuff like a physical table of elements wall.
Natalie wanted to see the planetarium show so we went. You walk into a room that looks like this:
Pretty standard stuff.
I must admit, I fully expected CENTERED IN THE UNIVERSE to be terrible. I couldn't imagine how something they have done since the 1930's could be anything but stale and outdated.
I was completely wrong.
CENTERED IN THE UNIVERSE is actually an immersive visual experience which is narrated by a real live person! In real time! A kindly bearded man was delighted to tell us that this show has been happening with live narrators for 70 years and turns a lamp on and off while talking about fireside stories.
He walked us through the history of astronomy, earth-centric views of the stars,
the first telescopes, the big bang, where we fit into the universe, and the existance of dark matter. He explained how many stars are in the Milky Way,
and gleefully described our position in the great vast universe as being "in the suburbs."
He consistantly reminded us that we don't have all the answers and that more information is always over the next horizon.
It was marvelous and I loved every minute of it.
TRANSFORMERS,
and I'm sure quite a few other movies since it's a cheap location in a park close to Hollywood.
One can tell from the heroic paintings on the ceiling
support a structure of SCIENCE, Science which is made from Greek ideals,
solid European practicality,
and easy access to the community and the masses,
back before folks were too busy playing on their phones to think about stuff like this.
The Griffth Observatory opened in 1935 so they have ridiculously dangerous/crazy exhibits like this lying around:
as well as low-key nerd stuff like a physical table of elements wall.
Natalie wanted to see the planetarium show so we went. You walk into a room that looks like this:
Pretty standard stuff.
I must admit, I fully expected CENTERED IN THE UNIVERSE to be terrible. I couldn't imagine how something they have done since the 1930's could be anything but stale and outdated.
I was completely wrong.
CENTERED IN THE UNIVERSE is actually an immersive visual experience which is narrated by a real live person! In real time! A kindly bearded man was delighted to tell us that this show has been happening with live narrators for 70 years and turns a lamp on and off while talking about fireside stories.
He walked us through the history of astronomy, earth-centric views of the stars,
the first telescopes, the big bang, where we fit into the universe, and the existance of dark matter. He explained how many stars are in the Milky Way,
and gleefully described our position in the great vast universe as being "in the suburbs."
He consistantly reminded us that we don't have all the answers and that more information is always over the next horizon.
It was marvelous and I loved every minute of it.
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