Visit Mount Wilson Observatory

Located on Mount Wilson, a 5,710-foot peak in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, California, the Observatory was conceived and founded by George Ellery Hale in 1904.

The home of some of the most important telescopes in the development of modern astronomy – including the two largest telescopes of their time – it is a site of significant scientific and Los Angeles history.

The Observatory and grounds are open to the public to visit, and during the spring and summer hosts public programs including observing through the historic telescopes, lectures, concerts, educational programs, and more.

Plan Your Visit

Interior view of the historic 100-inch Hooker Telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory.

Tours

Explore the history, science, and technology of Mount Wilson Observatory

Weekend Public Tours | Engineering Tours | Private Tours | Self-Guided Tours | Virtual Tour

The dome of the Mount Wilson Observatory illuminated at night with people gathered at the entrance.

Events

Concerts, lectures, public telescope nights, & more!

Concerts in the Dome | Talks & Telescopes | Arts @ the Observatory | All Events

Inside the dimly lit interior of the Mount Wilson Observatory, illuminated by red light, a person is looking through the eyepiece of a telescope

Observing

For an experience of a lifetime, view celestial objects through our historic 60-inch or 100-inch telescopes.

Telescope Reservations | Solar Observing | Public Ticket Nights

George Ellery Hale, circa 1905, working in his office in the Monastery, the dormitory for astronomers on the mountain.

History

Conceived & founded by George Ellery Hale in 1904, the observatory is home of some of the most important telescopes in the development of modern astronomy.

Our Founder | Our History | Mount Wilson Astronomers | Reflections Newsletter

Events & Programs

We have an exciting schedule of events planned for the mountain in 2026!

Arts@theObservatory: Russell Crotty – Nocturnal Landscapes From The Arid West

June 27, 2026 – October 17, 2026

An exhibition of drawings by California artist Russell Crotty, whose intricate works explore the relationship between scientific observation, landscape, and the night sky, presented in the historic 100-inch telescope dome at Mount Wilson Observatory.

More Info & Tickets

Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome – September 6: Webern String Quartet

September 6, 2026

Webern String Quartet
Todd Mason String Quartet No.5 “The Phoenix” (2025), Beethoven String Quartet No.15, Op.132

Benjamin Hoffman & Chiai Tajima, violins, Alex Granger, viola, Stella Cho, cello

More Info & Tickets

Matinees on the Mountain – September 12: Solaris (1972)

September 12, 2026

Solaris (1972)
A psychologist travels to a troubled space station orbiting the planet Solaris, where a mysterious alien intelligence manifests human memories and forces the crew to confront their past.

More Info & Tickets

Special Behind the Scenes Engineering Tour: September 13

September 13, 2026

This special, behind-the-scenes tour concentrates on the mechanical, optical, and electrical details of our 60- & 100-inch reflector telescopes with demonstrations of their motion controls.

More Info & Tickets

Talks & Telescopes – September 19: Anna Von Mertens

September 19, 2026

The Brightness of Stars: Henrietta Leavitt and the Transformative Nature of Attention in Art and Science
Anna Von Mertens, Visual Artist and Author
Visual artist and author Anna Von Mertens explores the life and legacy of Henrietta Leavitt, the pioneering astronomer whose study of variable stars provided the first reliable way to measure vast cosmic distances. Working among the women now known as the Harvard Computers at the Harvard College Observatory, Leavitt laid the foundation for major breakthroughs at Mount Wilson, including Harlow Shapley’s mapping of the Milky Way and Edwin Hubble’s discovery of an expanding universe. Drawing from her book Attention Is Discovery: The Life and Legacy of Astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, von Mertens shares archival materials alongside her own artwork inspired by Leavitt’s life, using art to celebrate not only how careful, trained attention leads to scientific discovery, but also how that applied attention creates a meaningful life.

More Info & Tickets

Special Behind the Scenes Engineering Tour: September 26

September 26, 2026

This special, behind-the-scenes tour concentrates on the mechanical, optical, and electrical details of our 60- & 100-inch reflector telescopes with demonstrations of their motion controls.

More Info & Tickets

LAAS Star Party – October 3

October 3, 2026 – October 4, 2026

Come join us for a public star party and spend a relaxing evening in the San Gabriel Mountains under the stars looking through telescopes provided by the members of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society!

More Info & Tickets

Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome – October 4: Piano Quartets

October 4, 2026

Piano Quartets
Mahler, Brahms Op.60 in C minor

David Kaplan, piano, Ambroise Aubrun, violin, Ariana Solotoff, viola, Cécilia Tsan, cello

More Info & Tickets

FULL EVENT CALENDAR

Mount Wilson Obvservatory dome during daytime with beautiful clouds in the background. Text to left reads: "Make a Difference".

Support Our Mission

The mission of the Mount Wilson Institute is to manage & promote the Mount Wilson Observatory for scientific research, historic preservation, education, public engagement, and the arts. Your generous support keeps our mission alive!

Donate | Become a Member | Volunteer | Shop

Education

Our Education programs are led by astronomers from world-renowned institutes. Students learn, at any level, about the astrophysics that led Hubble to discover the expanding Universe.

Grades 4-12 STEM Program | Adult Summer Observational Astrophysics Retreat