Star Party at Mount Wilson Observatory (File Photo – LAAS)
Mount Wilson Observatory, home to the historic 100-inch telescope that helped establish much of our modern understanding of the expanding universe and galaxies beyond the Milky Way, is offering a full slate of summer activities in the welcome cooler air at 5,700 feet above sea level.
By Melanie Hooks
Concerts in the Dome
The popular Concerts in the Dome series continues on Sunday, August 9, with a trio jazz artists performing the program Carte Blanche to Tom Ranier at 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. A reception will be held between performances at 4:00 pm. Tickets are $65 and are still available online. The performers are Tom Ranier on piano, Larry Koonse on guitar, and Darek Oles on bass.
Upcoming concerts include:
- August 9: Jazz — Carte Blanche to Tom Ranier
- September 6: String Quartets — Webern; Todd Mason’s String Quartet No. 5, “The Phoenix” (2025); and Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 15, Op. 132
- October 4: Piano Quartets — Mahler and Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 60
Next weekend brings two additional popular programs to the mountain: the Behind-the-Scenes Engineering Tour and the Los Angeles Astronomical Society’s (LAAS) Star Party, both on Saturday, July 11.
Engineering Tours
The special behind-the-scenes Engineering Tour explores the mechanical, optical, and electrical workings of the Observatory’s 60- and 100-inch reflector telescopes, including demonstrations of their motion-control systems. Tours begin at 9:00 am and conclude at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $125.
Tour dates are:
- July 11
- July 19
- August 8
- September 13
- September 26
- October 11
- October 24
LAAS Star Parties
Spend a relaxing evening beneath the stars in the San Gabriel Mountains during one of the Observatory’s public Star Parties. Visitors can observe through telescopes provided by members of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. No reservations are required. Donations collected at the gate support both the Observatory and LAAS.
Events begin at sunset and continue until 1:00 a.m.
Star Party dates are:
- July 11
- August 7
- September 4
- October 3
- November 7
Matinees on the Mountain
On select Saturday afternoons at 3:00 pm, classic science fiction films are screened in the Observatory’s 256-seat auditorium. General admission is $20.
Upcoming screenings:
- July 18: The Right Stuff
- August 15: E.T.
- September 12: Solaris (1972)
- October 10: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Talks and Telescopes Series
These popular evenings begin with a guest science speaker at 5:30 pm in the auditorium, followed by observing through both the 60- and 100-inch telescopes from dusk until 11:30 pm, the two largest telescopes in the world available for public use. Additional stargazing around the grounds will be provided by members of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. Food will be available for purchase from a food truck, or visitors may bring a picnic. Advance tickets are $50.
Upcoming talks include:
- July 25: Graphic Talk About Science: Adventures in Science Engagement by Clifford V. Johnson, Professor of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara
- August 22: Towards a Functional Cosmology by artist Lita Albuquerque
- September 19: The Brightness of Stars: Henrietta Leavitt and the Transformative Nature of Attention in Art and Science by visual artist and author Anna Von Mertens
- October 17: The Duality of Genius and Struggle: G. E. Hale by Sam Hale, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Mount Wilson Institute
Public Ticket Nights
The Observatory’s most exclusive, and most sought-after, experience is Public Ticket Night, when small groups have the opportunity to observe through the historic 100-inch telescope that astronomer Edwin Hubble used in observations that demonstrated the existence of galaxies beyond the Milky Way and helped establish that the universe is expanding.
The late-night experience runs from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am. Tickets are $235.
Public Ticket Night dates are:
- August 14
- August 15
- September 4
- September 5
- September 11
- September 12
Details and tickets for all events are available on the Mount Wilson Observatory website.
Edwin Hubble at Mount Wilson’s 100-inch telescope,1922 (Photo – Huntington Library, Mt. Wilson)
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