Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO), Southern California’s esteemed home to several of the most groundbreaking astronomical discoveries in history, announces its 2025 season of public events and telescope observing opportunities.
Once again, the Observatory’s 60-inch and 100-inch telescopes—the largest in the world made available to the public—will be open for stargazing. The Observatory’s popular lecture series, Saturday Evening Talks & Telescopes, will feature speakers on astronomy and other topics of relevance to the Observatory, followed by an evening of viewing on the telescopes. The Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome series—curated by Artistic Director Cécilia Tsan (Principal Cellist, Long Beach Symphony & Los Angeles Master Chorale)—takes advantage of the astonishing acoustics in the 100-inch telescope dome. MWO launches Matinees on the Mountain, a new movie series featuring a selection of Sci-Fi features and shorts. Daytime and Engineering tours provide a behind-the-scenes look into the telescopes and infrastructure of the institution, established by George Ellery Hale in 1904. Please visit https://www.mtwilson.edu to learn more.
The 2025 season begins on May 10, with the first Talks & Telescopes of the year, featuring Dr. Phil Korngut from Caltech, who will be talking about SPHEREx, NASA’s newest space telescope, followed by an evening of stargazing (weather permitting). The following week sees the first Matinees on the Mountain, with a screening of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey on May 17. Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome makes its 2025 debut on May 25, which will see the return of the exquisite jazz of Peter Erskine & the Lounge Art Ensemble. In July, on the 56th anniversary of the first person to walk on the moon (July 20, 1969), the hugely popular concert series will welcome astronaut and violinist Sarah Gillis in a very special performance celebrating humankind’s feat.
Visiting Mount Wilson
The gate to Mount Wilson’s campus opens at 10:00am daily and closes at 5:00pm from early April through November. Entrance to the grounds is free. Visitors can hike, gaze at the telescope domes and towers that dot the landscape, and take a look at historic Mount Wilson photos and letters in the Museum.
The Cosmic Café, located above the main parking lot at the Observatory entrance, is open on weekends in the spring, summer, and fall. In addition to traditional menu items such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks, the Café offers wraps, salads, and sweet treats from Little Flower Café.
Parking
A U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass is required to park at the Observatory. A $5 day pass or a $30 dollar annual pass may be purchased at the Cosmic Cafe on weekends between 10:00am and 4:00pm. During the week, passes are available at locations around Los Angeles. The most convenient location before heading up is at the Shell station in La Canada at the bottom of the Angeles Crest Highway. Click here to go to the U.S. Forest Service website for more information about Passes and other locations to buy them.
2025 EVENTS
SATURDAY EVENING TALKS & TELESCOPES
May through October, the Observatory welcomes the public to Saturday Evening Talks & Telescopes in its Auditorium followed by picnic dining and then stargazing through the 60-inch and 100-inch telescopes as the skies get dark.
May 10
Dr. Phil Korngut, Caltech, SPHEREx Instrument Scientist – The Saga of SPHEREx: NASA’s all-sky spectroscopic mapping machine
June 14
David Wilson, Co-Founder & Director, Museum of Jurassic Technology – No One May Ever Have The Same Knowledge Again: Letters to Mount Wilson Observatory, 1915-1935
July 12
Dr. Rosaly M.C Lopes, Deputy Director for Planetary Science, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory – Volcanism in the Solar System
August 9
Mike Brown, Professor of Planetary Astronomy, Caltech – Planet Nine from Outer Space
September 13
Lia Halloran, Professor of Art, Department of Art Chair, Chapman University - A Bigger Infinity
October 11
Prof. Jenny Krestow, Glendale Community College & Dr. Chris Burns, Carnegie Science Observatories – Decoding Cosmic Rainbows
May 17
2001: A Space Odyssey. Join MWO for the 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, noted for its scientifically accurate depiction of spaceflight, pioneering special effects, and widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.
June 21
Sci-Fi Silent Shorts with Joe Rinaudo and the Livonian Cinema. Historian and Preservationist Joe Rinaudo brings his hand-cranked 35mm projector and collection of silent films up the mountain, including A Trip to the Moon and The Eclipse by George Méliès.
July 26
Contact. Based on the 1985 novel by Carl Sagan, Contact stars Jodie Foster as Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Arroway, a SETI scientist who finds evidence of extraterrestrial life and is chosen to make first contact.
August 23
Astronomical Short Films with LA Filmforum. Los Angeles Filmforum presents early scientific films that venture to understand and represent the cosmos.
September 27
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) + Bob Baker Marionettes. An Indiana electric lineman finds his quiet life turned upside down after a close encounter with a UFO. We also encounter the Bob Baker Marionettes, who bring us stringed astronomers and puppets made for the production of the film.
October 25
TBD
SUNDAY AFTERNOON CONCERTS IN THE DOME - 8th Season
The finest music performed in the remarkable acoustics of the 100-inch dome! Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome presents daytime performances—two per date —May through October. The series, featuring jazz or classical programs, is thoughtfully curated by Artistic Director Cécilia Tsan (Principal Cellist, Long Beach Symphony). The 100-inch dome is a 20th century temple to science whose acoustics rival the great cathedrals of Europe and provides a unique setting for this ambitious concert series.
May 25
Peter Erskine & the Lounge Art Ensemble
Peter Erskine (drums), Bob Sheppard (saxophone), Darek Oles (bass)
Carte Blanche to the Trio. Jazz repertoire will be announced from the stage.
June 29
Cellissimo
Cécilia Tsan and Allan Hon (cellos)
An eclectic program for two cellists/friends playing a World Premiere, "Ready to Rumble" by Gernot Wolfgang, and an arrangement of Bach Chaconne, a Barrière Sonata, and an Offenbach duet.
July 20
Celebrating the First Walk on the Moon with Sarah Gillis Astronaut-Violinist.
Sarah Gillis, Martin Chalifour (violins), Andrew Duckles (viola), Cécilia Tsan (cello), and Tim Durkovic (piano)
"An exceptional celebration!” Sarah Gillis is the extraordinary astronaut/space engineer who flew to space in September 2024 on Polaris Dawn, a private human spaceflight mission, operated by SpaceX. In the Dragon Spacecraft, she played John Williams’ “Rey's Theme" (Star Wars, The Force Awakens). For this concert—with John Williams' blessing—Gillis plays the violin and piano version of that piece, specially for the Mount Wilson music series, as a celebration of the anniversary of the first human steps on the Moon taken by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. She will then join Martin Chalifour, Concertmaster of the LA Philharmonic, pianist Tim Durkovic, violist Andrew Duckles, and cellist Cécilia Tsan to perform Schumann Piano Quintet. The program will also include Beethoven Piano Trio, Op. 11. For the first time in MWO’s concert series, there will be chamber music played with piano! Gratitude to Drew Dembowski who is generously lending his Steinway for the concert; that piano successively belonged to two iconic musicians: (Jascha Heifetz and Pete Jolly).
August 3
Zelter String Quartet
Kyle Gilner and Gallia Kastner (violins), Carson Rick (viola), and Allan Hon (cello)
Back by popular demand, this vibrant string quartet of young musicians will offer a beautiful program including a World Premiere by Todd Mason (“The City of Angels”) and Beethoven quartets.
August 17
Celebrating Ben Powell
Leah Zeger (violin & vocals), Zach Dellinger (viola), Cécilia Tsan (cello)
Roch Lockyer (guitar & vocals), and Brian Netzley (bass). Tsan shares, "We will be honoring our dear friend, the late Ben Powell, violinist extraordinaire who passed away much too soon in 2024. Ben opened our series at Mount Wilson in 2017 at the very first concert in the Dome. As Ben's friends, we will perform music from various genres, honoring his exceptional versatility on the violin and his beautiful soul."
August 31
Leelou and Friends
Leelou (vocals & cello), Tony Bredelet (vocals & guitar), and Arnaud Dunoyer (keyboard)
Leelou, the young vocalist and cellist who was in the finals of The Voice in 2017 at age 11 and is now touring as Nefertari in the musical The 10 Commandments in Europe. A recent graduate of Pau Conservatory (Conservatoire Pau Béarn Pyrénées), she'll perform with friends, offering a variety of songs featuring the various genres that she loves.
September 21
New Hollywood String Quartet
Tereza Stanislav, Rafael Rishik (violins), Robert Brophy (viola), Andrew Shulman (cellos) + guest appearance by Cécilia Tsan (cello)
Los Angeles Times Classical Music Critic Mark Swed wrote: “The New Hollywood String Quartet takes its inspiration from the famed Hollywood String Quartet, composed of studio musicians in the 1940s and ’50s. It had the reputation as America’s finest string quartet for its superbly silky sound and capacity for vivid drama…. That’s still true with the New Hollywood, formed in 2001, four decades after the original Hollywood Quartet disbanded.” This concert will offer an all-Schubert program: the “Quartettsatz,” followed by the “String Quintet, D956,” with cellist Cécilia Tsan joining.
October 5
Musical Friends
Roger Wilkie (violin), Jonah Sirota (viola), Cécilia Tsan (cello), Geoff Osika (bass), Gigi Brady (oboe), and Sergio Coelho (clarinet). A winds and strings celebration. This program curated by Jonah Sirota will include works by Hans Gal, Britten, Prokofiev.
October 19
Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas
Carte Blanche to Los Angeles’ All Female Mariachi Band
TOURS
WEEKEND PUBLIC GUIDED TOURS
Docents-led public walking tours of the Mount Wilson grounds are offered every Saturday and Sunday. There are two tours per day, one leaving at 11:30am, and one at 1:00pm. Tickets for tours can be purchased at the Cosmic Café. Maximum tour size is 30 people, and tickets are ONLY sold at the Café. Private tours are also offered..
PRIVATE GROUP TOURS
Perfect for groups, MWO’s daytime private tours provide great flexibility as the days and times are arranged with their docent.
Behind-the scenes tours of the 60-inch and 100-inch telescopes that concentrate on the mechanical, optical, and electrical details of these historic instruments. The tour also includes the Snow Solar Telescope, the powerhouse, and the machine shop.
OBSERVING
These star-gazing evenings offer individual tickets for a night of viewing on the 60-inch and 100-inch telescopes. Bring a friend!
PRIVATE TELESCOPE RESERVATIONS
Mount Wilson’s 60-inch and 100-inch telescopes can ALSO be reserved for groups of up to 20.
LAAS STAR PARTIES
Returning this year, join MWO for free public star parties and spend the evening under the stars looking through telescopes provided by the members of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. 2025 schedule:
- April 26
- May 30
- June 28
- July 18
- August 15
- September 27
- October 10
SOLAR VIEWING
On the weekends’ Docent-led tours, attendees can access the 150-foot Solar telescope and the Snow Telescope.
ABOUT MOUNT WILSON OBSERVATORY
Since its founding in 1904 by astronomer and visionary George Ellery Hale, the research conducted at Mount Wilson Observatory has revolutionized our understanding of the Universe. Perched on top of Mount Wilson, a 5,710-foot peak in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, California, the Observatory boasts a rich history and significant contributions to science and the heritage of Los Angeles. The Observatory’s 100-inch Telescope—the world's largest telescope from 1917 to 1949—forever changed our understanding of the scale and nature of our Universe and deeply expanded human knowledge. This world-heritage class instrument, used by many of the greatest astronomers of the Twentieth Century, launched a revolution in astronomy that continues through today.
Mount Wilson Institute has independently operated and maintained the Mount Wilson Observatory since 1989 under a long-term agreement with the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The Observatory and grounds are open to the public to visit, and during the spring and summer months the Institute produces programs including observing sessions through the historic telescopes (the largest on the planet made available to the public), lectures, concerts, art exhibits, educational programs, and more. Many of these cultural offerings are presented inside the singular vaulted dome of the 100-inch Telescope.
All proceeds from ticketed events go to support Mount Wilson Institute in its mission to preserve, protect, and promote the Observatory and its scientific accomplishments.
Complete information on all the scientific, educational, and cultural activities at Mount Wilson Observatory can be found on their website https://www.mtwilson.edu.
LOCATION - Mount Wilson Observatory: Mount Wilson Circle Road & Mount Wilson Toll Road, Mount Wilson, CA 91023
On MWO’s website the “Map” page shows various SoCal routes to the 2 and 210 Freeways which feed into Angeles Crest Highway leading to Red Box Road, which then leads to Mount Wilson Circle Road.
PLEASE NOTE: Do not rely on directions given by phone apps, they can be incorrect. We recommend downloading and printing this PDF map with directions.
LINKS:
• Mount Wilson Observatory - https://www.mtwilson.edu
• MWO Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WilsonObs
• MWO Twitter - https://twitter.com/MtWilsonObs
• MWO Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mtwilsonobservatory
• PR Assets Folder (images, etc.) - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ayaN3JNIKNbcPYqnxp_ILe9HHvENJGSa?usp=drive_link
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