PBS Palomar documentary

The Moon Is Up

by

Alfred Noyes

The moon is up, the stars are bright.
the wind is fresh and free!
We're out to seek the gold tonight
across the silver sea!
The world is growing grey and old:
break out the sails again!
We're out to see a Realm of Gold
beyond the Spanish Main.

We're sick of all the cringing knees,
the courtly smiles and lies
God, let Thy singing channel breeze
lighten our hearts and eyes!
Let love no more be bought and sold
for earthly loss or gain;
We're out to seek an Age of Gold
beyond the Spanish Main.

Beyond the light of far Cathay,
beyond all mortal dreams,
Beyond the reach of night and day
Our El Dorado gleams,
Revealing - as the skies unfold -
A star without a stain,
The Glory of the Gates of Gold
beyond the Spanish Main.

The PBS offering, "The Journey To Palomar: America's first journey into space", was better than expected...full of famous people and places: James Henry Breasted, Jim Gunn, George Hale, John Hooker, Edwin Hubble, Alfred Noyes, Russell Porter, Harlow Shapley, Charles Yerkes, Dale Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller Jr.; Corning, New York, Egypt, Mt. Palomar, Mt. Wilson. George Hale was obsessed with astronomy and was clever enough to know how to stroke the wealthy and famous to sponsor his projects. It is a documentary worth a second watch and even a purchase.

And it all started with...



"The Journey To Palomar: America's first journey into space"


October 2nd, 1608/October 3rd, 1947...optics/telescope

Palomar Observatory