Comments on: Journey to Palomar

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:06:06 +0000

Didn’t realize it was going to be on. Caught the last part. Fasinating! We went to Mount Palomar in 1977 and I think that was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.

By: John Stodder

John Stodder — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:44:28 +0000

I’m friends with the filmmakers, so I’m probably biased, but it’s a great story and a superb film.

You’re right, whoever said they make the filmmakers pay for promotion. It was a struggle getting this made, it has drained every penny they have, although a last-minute grant will help offset some of the finishing costs. But there was no PR budget, so they ‘ve been doing it themselves with a little help from friends. The more you all can get the word out, the better.

They will make a little money on the DVD sales, so buy as many as you can. Great Christmas gift. Buy 10!

In Los Angeles, it’s on this weekend. Tonight (Saturday the 15th) at 9 pm, tomorrow at 3:30. You won’t be disappointed.

By: Jack Ruttan

Jack Ruttan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:00:28 +0000

Part of the trouble filming a story such as this is the non-dynamic subject, and the lack of visual materials available to tell it. That’s why programs often go with re-enactments (usually without words, to help international sales of the program), and snazzy computer graphics and camera moves.

As a docu show writer, I thought they did pretty well, but the building another telescope story got repetitive. At least they had more motion picture footage when they got to Palomar.

My favorite astronomy docu is “Universe” from Canada’s National Film Board. Though that was made a while back. http://www3.nfb.ca/collection/films/fiche/?id=10842

By: Sharon in Florida

Sharon in Florida — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:39:32 +0000

a follow up : yep, i must have been hallucinating. the producer says dr. starr said “kennedy.” my bad. i swore he said “nixon.” must. get. hearing. checked.

By: Sharon in Florida

Sharon in Florida — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:49:03 +0000

saw it tonight; thought it was excellent – missed some parts of it, however, due to something else i was working on…but, can i ask if i was hallucinating or what? because as i listened to Kevin Starr for one of his on camera spots, did he actually say that “…when NIXON said he’d put a man on the moon by the end of the decade…” ?????? excuse me, that was KENNEDY. did i actually hear Starr correctly or was that just me deep into my other project i was working on while watching? this came late into the program, btw.

By: Jack Hagerty

Jack Hagerty — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:54:45 +0000

changcho Says: “For some reason it’s not being shown in the PBS stations in the Bay Area (neither KQED, not KTEH nor the San Mateo station).”

KQED will be playing it the middle of December.

- Jack

By: changcho

changcho — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:45:52 +0000

For some reason it’s not being shown in the PBS stations in the Bay Area (neither KQED, not KTEH nor the San Mateo station).

By: Guy Mac

Guy Mac — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:03:54 +0000

Could they possibly make this epic period in the history of astronomy any more boring? Quite frankly, it was upsetting to see how tired and unimaginative this production was.

By: Jack Ruttan

Jack Ruttan — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:23:11 +0000

The show makes a point about how popular and prestigious types of science once were: crowds coming out to see the mirror go by, astronomers on the cover of TIME magazine. Things are more muddled today, it seems to me, but maybe that’s function of the loss of optimism, that science would make everything better, and we’d be trekking to those stars by now.

By: Chris P

Chris P — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:44:46 +0000

Awesome video. All sorts of fascinating quotes. I liked the pictures of the cranky old vehicles hauling the mirror up the mountainside. Ancient technology compared to the absolutely fabulous pictures it ended up taking.

Then of course the religion shattering measurements that geometrically showed that stars were millions and even billions of years old.

By: Ted H.

Ted H. — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:36:40 +0000

Saw it Monday in DC. The Planetary Radio podcast/radio show interviewed the makers of it last week. If it wasn’t for that episode, I wouldn’t have heard about it until right now.

By: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey

Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:19:56 +0000

Aaargh! I failed to close a tag! PBS Independent Lens site. 137 Films, the production company, has a site for The Atom Smashers . All tags closed? Looks like it. Now punching "Submit Comment." Cross your fingers.

By: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey

Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:16:06 +0000

I saw Journey to Palomar and it was quite good. Keep an eye out for a film on PBS's Independent Lens series: The Atom Smashers. It should air about two weeks from now-- on WTTW in Chicago, onTuesday, 25 November, but check your local station. It's a look at physicists at Fermilab as they pursue the Higgs and other scientific goals in the final years of the Tevatron's operation, with CERN breathing down their necks. I saw part of the film and was very impressed. The filmmakers spent months shooting at Fermilab (I gave them their radiation safety training) and they got some great candid interviews. There are shots of places and equipment and people I see every day, but which rarely make it into documentaries. See http://www.137films.org/films/theatomsmashers/ for more information.

By: Larian LeQuella

Larian LeQuella — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:13:06 +0000

Now that I got the HD channels, I have 2 extra PBS channels to surf. I’ll have to see if they are rebroadcasting this. This is what I get for taking some time off and just enjoying Veteran’s day.

By: Scott Kardel

Scott Kardel — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:16:53 +0000

It is a great show, but I admit that I am biased – I work at Palomar. Each PBS station gets to decide when they show the program. Many of them did on Monday night. If Phil sends me an email with his address I’ll get him a DVD of the show.

By: Richard Drumm The Astronomy Bum

Richard Drumm The Astronomy Bum — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:30:39 +0000

Oh, yeah, one thing I noticed was that there was absolutely -NO- promotion of the show whatsoever! Lots of promos for Antiques Roadshow, This Old House, Nature, you name it, but nothing for Palomar! I wonder if the producers have to pay extra for the promos…
Rich

By: baryogenesis

baryogenesis — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:24:14 +0000

Thanks for the heads up PJE. Watched the show on Homo Floresiensis (Hobbit) tonight on WNED. Hadn’t seen it and it was great. Wish there was so much more programming like this on TV, but I guess we have to let market forces determine the direction and level of education in North America. It’s only right to bite the bullet and accept that some day, maybe hundreds or thousands of years from now, we might think differently.

By: Nyx

Nyx — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:16:34 +0000

You missed it! It played last night, 9PM, KRMA Channel 6, Denver. It was great. I am sure it will be on again. Set your DVR.

By: Richard Drumm The Astronomy Bum

Richard Drumm The Astronomy Bum — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:49:57 +0000

Yup, it was Monday night at 10PM here in Virginia.
A good show, worth the DVD. Unfortunately NOT shot in HD.
Often your local PBS station will re-broadcast a show like Nova on a Saturday morning or a Thursday afternoon or something. Look closely at your local listings to see if it’s trying to sneak past you!
Rich

By: KC

KC — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:06:25 +0000

It’s pretty good, but focuses a bit too much on Hale, leaving out quite an interesting cast of characters.

By: John

John — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:09:15 +0000

If that interested you, you should hunt down a book called ‘The Perfect Machine’ which is a history of the building of Palomar. Good stuff.

By: Jack Hagerty

Jack Hagerty — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:01:03 +0000

It’s not going to be on any station in the Bay Area until the middle of next month

At least it WILL be on.

- Jack

By: Travis McDermott

Travis McDermott — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:59:30 +0000

It was on last night here in Maine. Terrific. Down right heroic.

By: The Chemist

The Chemist — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:34:32 +0000

Damn it’s not showing anywhere here in Atlanta. It’s a reach, but anyone have a local station showing it that simulcasts on the net?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:33:54 +0000

It’s not being shown until the 23rd here.

But even better news is the DVD of the film will be released November 18th!