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.

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; MWO National Weather Service Brief Forecast; MWO National Weather Service Detailed Forecast

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.

Mount Wilson’s newest astronomical instruments are Georgia State University’s optical interferometric array of six telescopes. This facility, located here because of the exceptional seeing conditions, puts Mount Wilson back on the cutting edge of astrophysics.

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

The astronomical seeing on Mount Wilson is often exceptional. Don’t miss this opportunity to come up by yourself or with a few friends or family to explore space!

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.

Welcome to Mount Wilson Observatory! Mount Wilson has been of interest to astronomers for over 100 years. A station of Harvard College Observatory was placed here briefly beginning in 1889.