Mount Wilson Observatory

News from Mount Wilson:

1/6/2012 - U.S. Forest Service undertakes a fire fuels reduction program on Mount Wilson - More here.

12/1/2011 - The Observatory's Cosmic Cafe is closed for the winter. We will reopen the Cafe and resume our 1 pm guided tours on April 1, 2012.

Banner photographs by David Jurasevich.

Mount Wilson Observatory is operated by the Mount Wilson Institute under an agreement with the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The Observatory occupies lands belonging to the USDA Forest Service set aside under a long-term leasehold agreement between CIW and the USDA Forest Service. The Observatory subscribes to the USDA non-discrimination policy as expressed here.

Support Mount Wilson by Becoming a

Volunteer Docent

Mount Wilson Observatory is visited by thousands of people each year, and the Observatory is presently expanding its tour program. To do so, we need the help of volunteers to staff these tours and to represent Mount Wilson to the visiting public. We currently have several openings for docents and will conduct a training course in the spring of 2012.

If this sounds like something you would enjoy doing and can fit into your schedule, download and submit the Docent Application Form. If you are accepted, you will be invited to the training sessions listed below.

Docent Benefits - While the greatest benefit may be the access you have to the behind the scenes aspects of the Observatory and the fun of telling the public about it, we provide docents with the following additional benefits:

Polo-type logo shirt and idenfication.
Free evening of 60-inch observing.
Free individual membership in the Friends of Mount Wilson Observatory.
Free lunch at the Cosmic Cafe for regular weekend tour docents along with a 15% discount on MWO souvenirs sold at the Cafe.

Docent Requirements - We expect that docents will:

Lead, or assist with, a minimum of 12 tours per year.
Attend four Saturday training sessions at Mount Wilson, each lasting approximately 6 hours.
Attend several tours led by certified docents to gain familiarity with the process.
Have a good command of the English language and the ability to communicate well with the general public.
Possess enthusiasm and dependability.
Have some understanding of the the basics of astronomy.
Have regular email access.

Desirables Requirements - Although not a requirement, we are especially looking for docents who are:

Available on weekdays.
Available for multiple tours per month.
Fluent in additional language(s).

Training Schedule - Accepted applicants will be expected to attend four Saturday training sessions at the Observatory: the exact dates to be announced soon. For those unable to attend the last two sessions, alternate dates may be possible.