Mount Wilson Observatory’s next T&T w/ The Museum of Jurassic Technology’s David Wilson
Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO)—Southern California’s esteemed home to several of the most groundbreaking astronomical discoveries in history—welcomes the public to the second “Saturday Evening Talks & Telescopes” of the season on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Entitled “No One May Ever Have the Same Knowledge Again: Letters to Mount Wilson Observatory, 1915–1935,” the lecture revisits material that inspired a landmark exhibition at The Museum of Jurassic Technology. MWO is honored to host David Wilson, the Museum’s Co-Founder and Director, who will explore the extraordinary letters written by the public to Mount Wilson during a time when its pioneering discoveries captured imaginations around the world. These letters became the foundation of the Museum’s acclaimed exhibition “No One May Ever Have the Same Knowledge Again.” The lecture will delve into the history of these letters, their lasting resonance in both science and art, and how they continue to inspire creative inquiry today. Tickets are available here: https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/talk061425
During the six-month season, each “Talks & Telescopes” event runs from 5:30pm to 11:45pm with the “talk” portion of the evening beginning in the Observatory’s Auditorium. The 60+ minute presentation is followed by picnic dining—bring your own or purchase from a food truck or caterer (cash is a safer bet due to frequent cell phone reception issues)—and then stargazing through Mount Wilson’s immense telescopes, the largest in the world made available to the public, after the sun goes down. Hamburger Planet’s food truck will ascend the mountain for June’s epicurean adventure. Additional stargazing around the grounds will be available thanks to members from the Los Angeles Astronomical Society.
Both the 60-inch telescope and the 100-inch (the telescope on which Edwin Hubble discovered our expanding universe) will be available for viewing the night sky. Priced at $50, this event series offers the most economical stargazing event option on the mountain. Tickets and more information are available on Mount Wilson Observatory’s website here: https://www.mtwilson.edu/lectures. Advance purchases are highly recommended.
VISITING MWO
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 Cafe, 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.
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 5:00pm. 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 Flintridge at the bottom of the Angeles Crest Highway (https://find.shell.com/us/fuel/10007957-4530-angeles-crest-hwy/en_US). Visit the U.S. Forest Service website for more information about Passes and other locations to buy them: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/passes/adventure-pass
For more information about Visiting Mount Wilson Observatory, please visit: https://www.mtwilson.edu/visiting