HPWREN Reflections by a Future Scientist

April 17, 2019

The following article was written by 12 year old Rachel Donahue, a 6th grade student at Double Peak K-8 school in San Elijo, and granddaughter of HPWREN staff member Greg Hidley. A separate article with the meeting presentations should be available soon.


On April 4, 2019, my grandpa invited me to his HPWREN users meeting. HPWREN is a microwave linked camera system that sends and collects data to many organizations. As a young viewer, I was most interested in how HPWREN helped Caltech Palomar Observatory and the California Wolf Center.

I was most interested in the Palomar Observatory because I would like to be an astronomer when I grow up. I learned how the cameras on Mt. Palomar can send and collect data to the California Institute of Technology. Mt. Palomar started using HPWREN in 2001 and that's when the big change happened. HPWREN now provides technology for astronomers to interact with the Palomar 200 inch, 60 inch and 48 inch telescopes. They also explained how they clean 200 inch mirror in the big telescope. I liked the suit the astronomers wore to stay warm and thought that I would wear it if I worked there because they keep the observatory very cool.


I was very fascinated by the California Wolf Center presentation. Wolves don't like being around lots of people! So people going and seeing them 7 days each week can give them uneasiness. The cameras show the wolves to the public. So having the cameras can give them 0% of anxiety. Public outreach is a very big thing because it can help the world see the wolves. They have actually traded pups with another pack to help them produce healthier wolves. I have been to the Wolf Center and seen them.


All in all, I learned a lot of new information like how HPWREN helps a lot of organizations like fire departments, the state parks, and the California Wolf Center. I thought it was going to be a boring, very long, talkative meeting but my expectations were wrong! It was very fun to be at the meeting and listen to all the speakers.

Rachel Donahue near the 200" telescope dome at the Palomar Observatory

Inside the 200" telescope dome during the tour after the HPWREN Users Meeting

Group photo of those attending the tour after the meeting