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Center of the Universe

Center of the Universe from directly overhead

Center of the Universe is a historic site in California, at a modelled elevation of 363 m. Strawberry Peak stands 1,879 m to the north-northeast, 6.5 miles off. The nearest named place is JPL Building 186 (Theodore von Kármán Museum and Auditorium), a museum 0.1 miles away. Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway - Route 110 passes 4.1 miles off.

What the record says

Inscription
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - California Institute of Technology - JPL The Center of the Universe "dare mighty things"

How to reach it

Coordinates34.20085, -118.17428

Overlooks nearby

Named places within 25 miles

Gardens
  • Food Garden: 0.6 mi
  • Vegetable Garden: 0.6 mi
  • Marcy's Garden: 0.6 mi
  • Bev's Native Garden: 0.6 mi
  • Bev's Vegetable Garden: 0.7 mi
Artworks
  • Unincorporated Mural: 0.9 mi
  • Williamson Gallery: 2.3 mi
  • Student Gallery: 2.3 mi
  • The Birds and Trees of Komitas: 3.5 mi
  • Our Community in the Foothills: 4.1 mi
Parks
Attractions
Peaks
Historic sites
Picnic sites: 49
Springs: 37
  • Not Much of a Spring: 7.9 mi
  • Silk Tassel Spring: 8.0 mi
  • Goldenrod Spring: 10.4 mi
  • Fascination Spring: 10.6 mi
  • Yerba Buena Spring: 11.1 mi
Waterfalls: 24
Beaches: 5
Cliffs: 4
  • Upper Switzer Falls Grotto: 4.1 mi
  • Porter Ranch Palisades: 22.0 mi
  • Porter Ranch Palisades: 22.4 mi
  • Porter Ranch Palisades: 22.6 mi
Hot springs: 1
  • Spa Palace: 11.4 mi

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 10.7 miles of Center of the Universe. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Strawberry PeakNNE 28°1,879 m6.5 mi
San Gabriel PeakNE 56°1,878 m5.2 mi
Mount DisappointmentNE 52°1,819 m5.1 mi
Mount LawlorNE 40°1,807 m6.3 mi
Vetter MountainNE 51°1,783 m10.7 mi
Mount DeceptionNE 46°1,767 m4.8 mi
Mount MarkhamENE 60°1,746 m5.0 mi
Mount WilsonENE 76°1,737 m6.7 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox06:5718:3219:05
June solstice05:4219:3120:08
September equinox06:4218:1818:51
December solstice06:5616:0916:48

Local time (America/Los_Angeles).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: year-round.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F575861636671767776706256
Precip in4.55.23.01.10.50.20.10.00.20.81.13.3

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Pasadena, 4 mi away.

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap element node/8148510575

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