The Observatory grounds and Skyline park are open to the public seven days a week from 10:00AM to 4:00PM during the months of April through November, although special conditions may sometimes cause closures or restrict access (see our Home page for special announcements). See the Directions page for how to get to Mt. Wilson Observatory.
Note: All tours are held in the daytime only and do not include looking through a telescope.
Public Tours:
These public weekend tours are free and no scheduling is needed. Just show up. Large groups (10 or more) should investigate getting a group tour (see below), which may be better able to address a group's specific interests, and can also be scheduled for a particular date and time.
Remember, Mt. Wilson's elevation is 5700 feet and it can get chilly. Even if it is warm down below, you might want to bring a jacket or coat just in case. A hat is usually a good idea also.
Group Tours:
Self-Guided Tours:
Virtual Tours:
During this period (April through November), MWOA docents conduct public tours of the grounds every Saturday and Sunday beginning at 1:00PM. Meet at the Pavilion area just to the east and above the large parking lot. These guided tours take visitors to the Observatory's Astronomical Museum for a description of the overall history of the Observatory, then past (and sometimes into) the UCLA 150-foot Solar Tower Telescope, past the 60-inch Telescope and one of the six telescopes of the
CHARA Interferometer Array, and into the visitors’ gallery of the 100-inch Hooker Telescope. The docent describes the history and operation of each of these instruments in turn, and answers any questions visitors may have. In the picture, a MWOA docent is speaking to visitors outside the door leading to the 100-inch visitors’ gallery on one of these public tours.
MWOA docents also conduct tours for groups who have reserved a specific date and time. These group tours are available for groups of up to 60 and can be tailored to address the group's own areas of interest. These tours are available year-round (conditions permitting) and must be arranged in advance; contact Mr. Gale Gant by email or see "Specially-Arranged Group Tours" under Tours & Visiting Info at the Mount Wilson website for details and fees.
For times when there are no guided tours by docents, MWOA has created a Self-Guided Tour Brochure. These provide directions and descriptions of all the major instruments, Observatory history, and more. Copies are available free at the Observatory Museum. Or go to the Tour Brochure page to download a version in PDF format.
Until you can come in person, you can take a
virtual tour of the Observatory on your computer.