Bad Astronomy

Palomar Observatory at risk from fires?

I just heard that the grand observatory on Mt. Palomar is at risk. This houses historic telescopes, including the famed 200 inch.

News reports from a few hours ago indicate that some of the people evacuated from the fires near San Diego are being housed at the observatory, but a BABloggee just emailed me saying that the observatory itself has been evacuated. The fires are burning out of control, fed in part by fierce Santa Ana winds.

Having lived in northern California, I am all too aware of the risk from fire. If you haven’t seen what they can do, it’s hard to imagine the devastation. My thoughts are with everyone in that area.

If you have solid information (I stress the “solid”), please post in the comments.