Photo courtesy Mt. Wilson Observatory
Mount Wilson Observatory will host cultural events throughout June 2025, combining scientific education with artistic performances. The programming offers public access to telescopes that are “the largest on the planet made available to the public.”
“Mount Wilson Observatory invites the public to a month of unique events that blend science, art, and history in an unforgettable setting above the city,” according to the observatory’s announcement.
Multiple events occur June 14, beginning with Engineering Tours from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. These “nuts-and-bolts” tours, priced at $100, take visitors “inside the mechanical and technical systems that power Mount Wilson’s legacy of discovery.”
That evening features “Talks & Telescopes,” with David Wilson, co-founder and director of the Museum of Jurassic Technology, presenting “No One May Ever Have The Same Knowledge Again: Letters to Mount Wilson Observatory, 1915-1935.” The 5:30 p.m. lecture costs $50 and explores correspondence received between the world wars, “ranging from expressions of admiration to passionate messages from individuals claiming to have unique astronomical insights.”
Following the talk, both telescopes remain open for viewing from dusk to 11:30 p.m., with additional stargazing by Los Angeles Astronomical Society members.
June 21 features “Matinees on the Mountain,” a 3 p.m. screening of silent science fiction films using a 1909 hand-cranked projector. Films include Georges Méliès’ “Trip to the Moon,” shown “just as they were seen a century ago” with live organ accompaniment. Tickets cost $20.
A second Engineering Tour occurs June 22.
The series concludes June 29 with “Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome,” featuring cellists Cécilia Tsan and Allan Hon performing “CELLISSIMO.” The program includes a world premiere of “Ready to Rumble” by Gernot Wolfgang, plus Bach, Barrière and Offenbach pieces. Performances at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. cost $60 each.
The 100-inch telescope dome serves as concert venue, described as “a 20th century temple to science whose acoustics rival the great cathedrals of Europe.”
Founded in 1904, Mount Wilson Observatory sits atop a 5,710-foot peak near Pasadena. The 100-inch telescope was the world’s largest from 1917 to 1949.
Observatory grounds open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from early April through November with free admission. Visitors require a U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass for parking, available for $5 daily or $30 annually.
Complete information and tickets available at mtwilson.edu/events.
