Although the life and achievements of George Ellery Hale remain largely unheralded beyond academia, this award-winning PBS-aired documentary does an excellent job of celebrating Hale as one of the extraordinary pioneers of modern astronomy. Some know Hale from the famous 200-inch telescope that bears his name at the now-legendary Mount Palomar observatory in California, but the dramatic biographical details of his life are just as engaging as his quest to build the world's largest telescopes over four decades. Produced, written, and directed by Todd and Robin Mason, The Journey to Palomar (inspired by Ronald Florence's book The Perfect Machine) covers Hale's remarkable and unconventional career, from his roots in Chicago (where he first recruited the egotistical “Goliath of Graft,” tycoon Charles Yerkes, to finance the Chicago Observatory) to the troubled construction of a 60-inch telescope on Mount Wilson (also in California), to the posthumous completion of the legendary telescope at Palomar. With each step, Hale battled nervous anxiety, lengthy bouts of depression, and his own personal demons, overcoming numerous setbacks to open new and better windows to the mysteries of the universe. Combining well-chosen archival footage with excellent interviews of noted historians (including Kevin Starr and Richard Preston) and scientists, The Journey to Palomar tells a fascinating story of an eventful life. DVD extras include a featurette examining three cutting-edge future telescopes that will expand upon Hale's legacy, as well as a teacher's guide. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Shannon)
The Journey to Palomar
(2008) 90 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.95 w/PPR). PBS Video. Closed captioned. ISBN: 0-7936-9490-6. Volume 24, Issue 3
The Journey to Palomar
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