Mount Wilson Observatory, Observatory in Los Angeles County, United States
Mount Wilson Observatory is an observatory in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, California, sitting at an elevation of over 5,700 feet (about 1,740 m) above sea level. The site includes several dome-shaped buildings housing large telescopes, a museum, a viewing gallery, and open grounds with paths and picnic areas.
The observatory was founded in the early 20th century by astronomer George Ellery Hale, who chose the site for its clear skies and high elevation. Over the following decades, work done there contributed to fundamental discoveries about how stars move and how large the universe truly is.
Mount Wilson Observatory holds a special place in the world of astronomy because several discoveries made there changed how scientists think about the universe. On weekends, families, students, and curious visitors come to walk the grounds, look through telescopes, and attend talks or evening programs.
Getting there requires driving a winding mountain road off the Angeles Crest Highway, so allow extra time and check road conditions before heading up. The elevation and the stairs throughout the grounds can be tiring, so visitors with mobility or breathing concerns should look into accessibility details ahead of time.
The 100-inch Hooker Telescope on the grounds was the largest in the world when it was completed in 1917, and it was used to make some of the most consequential observations in the history of astronomy. Astronomer Edwin Hubble used it to demonstrate that the Milky Way is just one of millions of galaxies, fundamentally changing our picture of the cosmos.
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