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 ...

Located on the summit of Mount Wilson above Pasadena at an altitude of 5715 feet, Mount Wilson Observatory is visible from much of the Los Angeles area. Free of charge, visitors can view the historic Hooker 100-inch telescope from the Visitors’ Gallery inside the dome.

Access to Mount Wilson is via the Angeles Crest Highway (CA Hwy 2) from the 210 Freeway at La Canada Flintridge. Directions given by apps on your phone can be incorrect. We recommend downloading and printing our PDF map with directions here.

Mt. Wilson Observatory HPWREN TOWER CAMS – CURRENT IMAGES. CLICK TO VIEW LARGER IMAGE

The following sites provide weather forecast and condition information and the status of county and state roads that provide access to Mount Wilson Observatory: Current Conditions (Frequently Updated) from CHARA Weather Stations

Tours of Mount Wilson Observatory Weekend Public Tours Docent-led walking tours of the Observatory are available every Saturday and Sunday at 11:30AM & 1PM during the spring and summer.

Mount Wilson’s 60-inch telescope provides incredible views of some of the most beautiful objects in the night sky and is among the largest in the world accessible to public viewing.

Built in 1936, he Mount Wilson Observatory Astronomical Museum features historical photographs taken by the Mount Wilson telescopes as well as photographic & documental histories of the Observatory and vignettes of current research programs.

Docent-led walking tours of the Observatory are available every Saturday and Sunday during the spring, summer, and fall months. There will be two tours per day, one leaving at 11:30 am and another leaving at 1:00 pm.Tours leave from the Cosmic Café located above the large parking lot at the entrance to the Observatory.

Print your own self-guided tour map of Mount Wilson Observatory. Interactive Map Explore the telescopes and other sites on observatory online, with descriptions of key locations with our interactive map .