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 the Observatory's Second Century Campaign with your tax-deductible donation.

Be a Docent Tour Guide - We are now recruiting Docents to participate in our very active guided tour program for 2012. Click here for details.

In the first half of the 20^th Century, eminent astronomers such as Harlow Shapley and Edwin Hubble used the incomparable facilities of Mount Wilson Observatory to forever alter humankinds view of our place in a vast and expanding Universe.

Today, Mount Wilson's original solar and night-time telescopes, the world's largest for two generations of astronomers, have been joined by new facilities achieving unprecedented high-resolution views of the stars.

Copyrighted photos courtesy David Jurasevich, Steve Golden, and the Huntington Library.

Visit Mount Wilson - The Observatory is open to the public daily from 10 am to 4 pm, April through November. On weekends, have lunch at our Cosmic Cafe and then take a 1 p.m. Guided Tour that includes entry onto the observing floor of the 100-inch Telescope. At other times, including the winter months, you can arrange for a Special Tour.

Look through the 60-inch telescope - Mount Wilson's historic 60-inch telescope, among the largest available for public viewing, still has nights available in 2011, and the 2012 season is open for scheduling.

Explore Mount Wilson On-Line -

Take an incredible spherical panoramic tour.
Watch a 13-minute video narrated by Hugh Downs.
View a picture and word virtual tour.
Study current MWO science.
Learn about the history of MWO.
Check out the website of the CHARA Array.
Look at the latest image of the Observatory from Towercam.
See today's sunspot drawing from the 150-ft solar tower.

We Need Your Support - Mount Wilson Observatory is privately owned and receives no continuing state or federal support. You can help ensure the continued operation of this science heritage site with your tax deductible gift in one of three ways. Click here to find out how you can help preserve and revitalize this world-class treasure of science and engineering.

Photo courtesy Eric Simison, Sea West Enterprises

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