Griffith Observatory

After sitting in the aftermath of the gasoline tanker truck crashing and spilling its contents across the I-5 while hoping thinking that the traffic diversions were the result of an isolated manhunt and/or car chase across LA July 13th, I eventually made it to a parking spot 10 minutes away from the Griffith Observatory.

Seriously, I thought "All this way through hellish traffic and heat,  and a hike off of the trail right next to us for ONE building?"

I came upon a scene of many, many people possibly gathering for the Star Party of both amateur and professional telescope-using astronomers that would be set later that night which I had planned on attending, but with sundown at around 8 and suggested line up at 6, I threw myself into just going through the exhibits.

This monument outside of Galileo, Copernicus,  Newton, and some other astronomical figures guard the outside of the observatory like golems ready to be activated upon alarm of space-heresy.

The main atrium of the observatory held the foucault pendulam and a painted ceiling. 

Too many people were crowding around the pendulum's description, so  "It was mesmerizing" is all that I can say.
But further research on it that it demonstrates the effect of the rotating earth on changing its swinging direction changes  that to "I wish I had stayed to watch it knock over a pin.

http://pokemon.wikia.com/wiki/Hypno

Like a Sistine Chapel of Science, filled with people I can actually possibly recognize.

For a virtual walkthrough of depictions of people I don't recognize: http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/

In one direction was a series of small dioramas of Earth phenomena like the seasons, viewable constellations, eclipses.

This showed the phases of the moon as they appear to us across a month's time.

An explanation of the gravitational influence the moon has on our oceans.

A musical interpretation of the implications of the tide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAt1ejlO_7Q

The constellations available for viewing throughout the year as embodied by astrological signs.

Eclipses that you don't have to wait several years for.

The usage of an eclipse in the Heroes TV series logo shows how we all know that eclipses are special, especially since they are not of our own creation. Even though we know how and why they occur, we still attach stories to them and propagate their power.
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/16/dynamite-gets-cullen-bunn-to-reintroduce-heroes/heroes-pictured-heroes-logo-nbc-photo/
Farther to one wing of the building is a periodic table of elements.
Seriously, it HAS the elements.

You can light up different groupings of the elements i.e. metals, gases, etc. so waiting for a picture of when people stop pressing buttons whose function they have no idea besides making things pretty took quite a while.

I'd like to point out how this traditionally nerdy tool for chemists has become an art form across the internet.

If only superpowers were natural materials provided by the Earth.

*sighhhhhhhhhhhh*

http://comicsalliance.com/superhero-periodic-table-superpowers/

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2012/12/periodic-table-of-the-internet/

http://lotrproject.com/projects/periodictable/

Pretty soon we'll be seeing a periodic table of periodic tables.

On the other end of the building, geek culture would rejoice at this Tesla monument (especially since there wasn't an Edison one anywhere around).

I actually spent quite a while looking to see if there was a button to turn on the Faraday cage.

TheOatmeal, as one of the Internet's most popular online comic writer, was able to fundraise thousands of dollars for a Tesla museum using this infographic.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla

Historically-accurate and aesthetically-amusing information transmission.

Like if Schoolhouse Rock! grew up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ1Mz7kGVf0

The following exhibits were additional reminders of scientific discoveries and technological applications that the general public encounters on a daily basis, whether their encounter would be for pleasure and/or utility.

The thermal camera was a big hit with everyone; expect them at your local fair instead of funhouse mirrors.

Call of Duty's gamers wouldn't be able to focus on body parts that make gradient spots; shoot anything white to win.

http://www.themodernwarfare2.com/mw2/multiplayer/weapons/sniper-rifles/intervention/

I like this graphic for its attempt to show the public that music in your car doesn't just come out of nowhere and your microwave isn't a magic heat box - invisible forces are just waves at different frequencies that can be observed and even manipulated.

My friend took a panorama picture of this star-jewelry collection.
She got quite a workout from the 40-foot walk along the wall.

Our human interpretation and appreciation of stars runs wild, as seen by the pictured jewelry above and even in powerful metaphors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJoTxJ5DPxk

This time capsule, and the concept behind all time capsules, is very interesting indeed. Those who make them today have a message to tell the future, if not themselves then others, of how they lived; in addition, it is a preservation of dearest items that cannot be allowed to be forgotten.
 Will the future appreciate the confined contents for an evaluation of human progression, nostalgic pieces of brighter or darker days, sources of intellect forgotten by their era?

A telescope...a hidden gem in the basement...

WAIT.


WHY, DOESN'T THAT LOOK FAMILIAR.
http://youtu.be/MEH5O4sNssE?t=2m35s

I did happen to attend a show in the planetarium, Centered in the Universe, and it was fantastic. My narrator was like a subdued Jane Lynch, the 3D experience can't be replicated with any set of recycled theater glasses and IMAX screen, and it puts you in the middle of that Powers of 10 video to the point of . Really, if you go to the Griffith, lie back in a chair and learn some stuff about space.

NACHO TIME

Also, my girlfriend and I decided that our stomachs wanted preserved-for-truck-delivery-up-a-mountain-then-thawed-for-over-paying-customers nachos and made it a thing for every subsequent museum visit afterwards. 

Sorry, I couldn't find a .gif of Jack Black saying NACHOOOOO!
http://parentpreviews.com/movie-reviews/nacho-libre

No picture available (because we wanted to stuff our faces as quickly as possible) but the pile of chips, and nacho cheese drizzle flood, guacamole and sour cream scoops, and olive and jalapeño shower was on par with a high school's lazy distribution to even lazier, uncaring teen students. It's on the bottom of our museum-favorites list.