You know me, if it is the least bit mysterious, and you can't tell at first glance what a photograph is, then I am most likely going to love it! This is an 18" diameter polished brass ball suspended on a long cable from the ceiling of the Griffith Observatory. It is the first thing you see when you enter the lobby of the building. The complete device is called a Foucault Pendulum, and it slowly swings back and forth in this pit that you can look down into. Over time, the pendulum slowly changes the angle of the back and forth movement within the pit, which demonstrates the rotation of the Earth on its axis. The ring of light on the ball is a reflection of the illumination within the pit, and if you enlarge the photo, you may even be able to see the heads and shoulders of people looking down at it from above.
a spacey gem!
ReplyDeletehad you been in paris, my first guess would have been some kind of fancy pastry. well, almost. another gorgeous photograph.
ReplyDeleteoops, as you may have realized, the above comment from "anonymous" is mine, your pal who is just back from paris. i was racing along too fast to sign it. sorry about that ...
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