Mount Wilson Observatory

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Mount Wilson Observatory Where we discovered our place in the universe.

One of just two Talks & Telescopes evenings left this season!Join us this Saturday, September 19, for an evening under t...
09/18/2026

One of just two Talks & Telescopes evenings left this season!

Join us this Saturday, September 19, for an evening under the stars at Mount Wilson, with viewing through our historic 60-inch and 100-inch telescopes and stargazing around the Observatory grounds.

This month, Anna Von Mertens shares the story of Henrietta Leavitt, whose groundbreaking work measuring the brightness of stars helped give astronomers a way to measure the scale of the universe - and laid the foundation for discoveries by Harlow Shapley and Edwin Hubble.

Bring a picnic or grab dinner from the food truck, enjoy sunset on the mountain, and stay for a night of observing.

🎟️ www.mtwilson.edu/events/lecture091926

Just two Engineering Tours with tickets still available this season! Go behind the scenes at Mount Wilson for a nuts-and...
09/17/2026

Just two Engineering Tours with tickets still available this season! Go behind the scenes at Mount Wilson for a nuts-and-bolts look at the mechanical, optical, and electrical systems that have kept some of the world’s most historic telescopes operating for more than a century. Get an up-close look at the 60-inch and 100-inch telescopes, including demonstrations of their motion controls, and visit areas not normally included on our public tours.

With the October 11 tour already sold out, only September 26 and October 24 still have tickets available this season.

🎟️ www.mtwilson.edu/engineering-tour

Spend an evening under the stars at Mount Wilson! Join us Saturday, September 19 for Talks & Telescopes, with viewing th...
09/12/2026

Spend an evening under the stars at Mount Wilson! Join us Saturday, September 19 for Talks & Telescopes, with viewing through our historic 60-inch and 100-inch telescopes and stargazing around the Observatory grounds. This month, Anna Von Mertens shares the story of Henrietta Leavitt, whose groundbreaking work helped make possible the discoveries of Harlow Shapley and Edwin Hubble. Bring a picnic or grab dinner from the food truck, enjoy sunset on the mountain, and stay for a night of observing.
🎟️ www.mtwilson.edu/events/lecture091926/

09/09/2026

This Saturday: Solaris on the mountain! Join us September 12 for our next Matinee on the Mountain, featuring Andrei Tarkovsky’s haunting science-fiction classic Solaris (1972). A psychologist arrives at a troubled space station orbiting the mysterious planet Solaris, where an alien intelligence has begun confronting the crew with memories…and people…from their past. Come up early, grab lunch at the Cosmic Café, explore the Observatory, then settle in for an afternoon of unforgettable sci-fi on the mountain.
🎟️ Tickets: www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie091226

Join us Saturday, September 12 for our next Matinee on the Mountain, featuring Andrei Tarkovsky’s science-fiction classi...
09/06/2026

Join us Saturday, September 12 for our next Matinee on the Mountain, featuring Andrei Tarkovsky’s science-fiction classic Solaris (1972). A psychologist travels to a troubled space station orbiting the mysterious planet Solaris, where an alien intelligence forces the crew to confront memories…and people...from their past. Come early, grab lunch at the Cosmic Café, explore the Observatory, and then settle in for an afternoon of classic sci-fi on the mountain.
🎟️ www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie091226

This Sunday, September 6, the Webern String Quartet (Benjamin Hoffman and Chiai Tajima, violins; Alex Granger, viola; an...
09/03/2026

This Sunday, September 6, the Webern String Quartet (Benjamin Hoffman and Chiai Tajima, violins; Alex Granger, viola; and Stella Cho, cello) performs in the historic 100-inch Telescope Dome.The program features Todd Mason’s String Quartet No. 5, “The Phoenix” and Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 15, Op. 132. Join us for the second-to-last concert of the season and experience an afternoon of extraordinary music beneath the 100-inch telescope, a space renowned for its remarkable acoustics.
🎟️ www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert0906256

Join us this Friday, September 4, from sunset to 1 AM for a FREE Star Party with the Los Angeles Astronomical Society! L...
09/03/2026

Join us this Friday, September 4, from sunset to 1 AM for a FREE Star Party with the Los Angeles Astronomical Society! LAAS members will set up an array of telescopes giving you the chance to explore the night sky with experienced amateur astronomers there to guide you along the way. Saturn will be the prime target right now after 9pm. We can also look for some globular clusters like M3, M5, and M13; Andromeda is getting higher in the sky and the Ring Nebula is still well placed if the skies are clear. No reservations required. Donations supporting Mount Wilson Observatory and LAAS are gratefully accepted at the gate.
🔭 More info: www.mtwilson.edu/events/starparty090426/

Just two months left in our 2026 public event season! September is packed with ways to experience Mount Wilson: stargazi...
09/01/2026

Just two months left in our 2026 public event season! September is packed with ways to experience Mount Wilson: stargazing at our free LAAS Star Party, live music beneath the 100-inch dome, a mountaintop matinee of Solaris, Talks & Telescopes, behind-the-scenes Engineering Tours, art in the dome, weekend public tours, and more. Come spend a September day (or night!) on the mountain.
See what’s happening: www.mtwilson.edu/events

On Sunday, September 6, the Webern String Quartet joins us for our next Sunday Afternoon Concert in the Dome. Benjamin H...
08/30/2026

On Sunday, September 6, the Webern String Quartet joins us for our next Sunday Afternoon Concert in the Dome. Benjamin Hoffman and Chiai Tajima, violins; Alex Granger, viola; and Stella Cho, cello bring their artistry to a program featuring: Todd Mason’s String Quartet No. 5 “The Phoenix” (2025) & Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 15, Op. 132. Four exceptional musicians, two remarkable works, and one extraordinary setting.
🎟️ www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert0906256

Spend your weekends in the mountains! Mount Wilson Observatory is hiring Cosmic Cafe & event staff for September throu...
08/28/2026

Spend your weekends in the mountains! Mount Wilson Observatory is hiring Cosmic Cafe & event staff for September through December.

We’re looking for positive, reliable people who enjoy working with the public and would like to spend their weekends at one of Southern California’s most unique destinations. Weekend availability is important.

Interested? Send your resume and a brief cover email to [email protected].

Know someone who might be a great fit? Please share!

Address

100 Mt Wilson Circle Rd
Mount Wilson, CA
91023

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

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