Mount Wilson Observatory Presents “Chaotic Quakes in California and Clockwork Quakes on the Moon”

Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO), Southern California’s esteemed home to over 100 years of groundbreaking astronomical discovery, welcomes the public to its sixth and final ”Saturday Evening Talks & Telescopes” of the 2024 Season, taking place on Saturday, October 19. The event runs from 5:30pm to 11:30pm with the “talk” portion of the evening beginning in the Observatory’s Auditorium. MWO is honored to present a lecture by Allen Husker (Caltech Research Professor and Manager of the Southern California Seismic Network), entitled “Chaotic Quakes in California and Clockwork Quakes on the Moon.” The presentation will explore how Husker's team is adapting earthquake early warning technology from California for use in future lunar missions. During the six-month season, each “Talks & Telescopes” presentation starts out in the Observatory’s Auditorium, followed by picnic dining—bring your own or buy dinner onsite (cash is preferred)—and then stargazing through Mount Wilson’s immense telescopes, the largest in the world made available to the public, after the sun goes down. Both the 60-inch telescope and the 100-inch (the telescope on which Edwin Hubble discovered our expanding universe) will be available for viewing the night sky. Bruce's Twisted Barbecue ascends the mountain for October’s epicurean adventure. Priced at $50, this event series offers the most economical stargazing event option on the mountain. Tickets are available on Mount Wilson Observatory’s website here: https://www.mtwilson.edu/lectures. Advance purchases are highly recommended. “Chaotic Quakes in California and Clockwork Quakes on the Moon” Almost 100 years ago, three seismic stations in Pasadena, Riverside, and Mount Wilson laid the groundwork for what is now the Southern California Seismic Network (SCSN), which has grown to hundreds of stations. Over the years, the SCSN has advanced earthquake research using the latest technologies. A major recent breakthrough is the earthquake early warning system, giving people a few critical seconds to prepare. Today, AI and Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) are pushing the science further—AI detects tiny quakes at scale, and DAS turns fiber optic cables into thousands of virtual seismometers. Allen Husker’s research team is using AI to analyze Apollo mission data to better understand moonquakes, with an eye on how DAS could help in future lunar missions. The team, in collaboration with NASA’s JPL, is working on creating the first generation of lunar DAS seismometers, which Artemis astronauts will eventually be able to set up on the moon. VISITING MWO The gates to Mount Wilson’s campus open at 10:00am daily and close at 5:00pm in the spring and summer, and 4:00pm in the fall. Entrance to the grounds is free. Visitors can hike, gaze at the telescope domes and towers that dot the landscape, and take a look at historic Mount Wilson photos and letters in the Museum. The Cosmic Café, located above the parking lot at the Observatory entrance, is open on weekends in the spring, summer, and fall, weather permitting. In addition to traditional menu items such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks, the Café is offering various lunch and sweet treats from Little Flower Café: https://www.mtwilson.edu/cosmic-cafe LOCATION Mount Wilson Observatory 100 Mt Wilson Circle Road Mount Wilson, CA 91023 On MWO’s website, the “Map” page shows various SoCal routes to the 2 and 210 Freeways which feed into Angeles Crest Highway, which goes to Red Box Road, which then leads to Mt Wilson Circle Road: https://www.mtwilson.edu/1map PARKING A U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass is required to park at the Observatory, as it is located on U.S. Forest Service land. A day pass may be purchased at the Cosmic Cafe. The $5 day pass or a $30 dollar annual pass may be purchased at other locations around Los Angeles before heading up. Visit the U.S. Forest Service website for more information about the $5 Adventure Pass and where to buy them: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5208699 NOT ADA-COMPLIANT Please be advised that access to the 100-inch dome is via an open-air, 53-step staircase inside the building. There is no ADA-compliant access. For more information about Visiting Mount Wilson Observatory, please visit: https://www.mtwilson.edu/visiting

Event Links

Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2688800-0

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