Wildfire kept away from California observatory

Firefighters have prevented a California wildfire from damaging the historic Mount Wilson Observatory, which played a pivotal role in confirming in the early 20th century that galaxies exist outside the Milky Way and that the universe is expanding.

The Bobcat Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles came within 500 feet (152 meters) of the observatory Tuesday, but efforts like controlled burns to clear fuel, water drops and clearing brush helped protect the facility, forestry officials said.

By early Wednesday, the blaze had burned more than 69 square miles (180 square kilometers) and was largely uncontained, but the flames were calmer.

Mount Wilson rises to an elevation of more than 5,700 feet (1,740 meters) about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

The observatory was founded in 1904 by legendary astronomer George Ellery Hale, who sought to take advantage of Southern California's then-clear skies.

The observatory made solar observations before Hale set his sights on bigger things - first a 60-inch (152-centimeter) reflector telescope that began being used in 1908 and then a 100-inch (254-centimeter) telescope that saw first light in 1917.

In their day, they were the world’s largest telescopes.

In 1924, astronomer Edwin Hubble used the larger of the two telescopes to confirm theories that galaxies exist beyond the Milky Way and by 1929, was able to show, along with colleague Milton Humason, that the universe was expanding.

The famous telescopes and solar observation towers remain on the peak, along with modern astronomy instruments that are used now.

Nearby, there is an array of TV and radio broadcast towers serving the greater Los Angeles region.

More than 16,600 firefighters are battling over two dozen major California wildfires, while other crews work to beat back flames in Oregon and Washington state, affecting air quality across the American West.