Palomar Observatory

We took a trip up to the Palomar Observatory. I don’t think that I have ever been here before. I just remember it from pictures. They have a nice museum that has a real 18 inch telescope that was used in the beginning of the 1900’s to find asteroids. This was a scope used to take pictures only. They used a guide scope to find the area they wanted to take a picture of. Then they would hold the scope on a guide star and open up the shutter. More likely for about an hour photo. Then they would develop the film and observe it with a microscope. Because I am an amateur astronomer, I found all of this real interesting.
They will let you into the observatory. However, you walk through a type of visitors area where they have lots of information about the telescope. From the visitors area, you can look through a gigantic glass window and see the whole scope.
To see more, you can go on a tour. The tours this day were at 11:00am and 1:30pm. Unfortunately we missed the 11:00am tour and we had other things to do that day and could not go on the 1:30pm tour. We talked to two of the 11:00am volunteer tour guides and they told us that the tour brings you inside the telescope area and up to the upper catwalk of the telescope. One of the guides pointed out that they use various cameras to view through the scope. He told us to watch as one of the employees filled the camera chamber with liquid nitrogen. The camera is kept at a very cool temperature because electrons flow very easily at the cold temperature (think superconductivity). Because the electrons flow so easily, it makes the camera more light sensitive. This way they can see many distant nebulas and galaxies many light years away.
The road going up here is very scenic. It is also windy (especially at the top). One persons car (not ours) was coming down as we were coming up and he was screeching his tires the whole way through a curve. So please be careful on these roads. The area around the scope has warning signs for rattlesnakes. Just stay on the trails and everyone will be just fine. There is also campgrounds along the way up here. We would like to try camping up here sometime.
Except for the museum shop, there is really nothing else as far as places to shop. There are no food places up there. So be prepared to bring a lunch with you to eat at the picnic tables by the parking lot. It is beautiful there.

Lots of fun! I really enjoyed the tour, and I wish that it was a little bit longer. They told us that the interior of the observatory was chilled to anticipated nighttime temperatures, so it was really nice to enjoy the nice, cool temperature-​controlled interior during the blistering summer heat.
I wish that there was more to see in the science center/​museum next to the gift shop, but it’s still a nice place to check out before or after the tour. There’s a cute picnic area near the visitor’s parking lot, so pack a lunch (there are restaurants on the drive up if you forget, but I didn’t see any places that sold food at the observatory).
There’s no cell reception up here, so I’d call ahead an check the website to make sure that they’re still open (they’re closing the observatory to the public for maintenance, but check back in a few weeks) and that the tours (when we went, there were late morning and early afternoon tours) haven’t sold out for the day.
I’d highly recommend this observatory to star-​lovers and casual observers alike, as it’s a lovely way to spend the day!
P. S. I saw a sign that said that very small children (under 5) aren’t allowed on tours – call ahead for age restrictions if you plan on bringing your kids.

I called the day before we were planning on visiting and the recording said that there were guided tours two times. I either did not hear that it was only on Saturdays and Sundays or it didn’t say. So we drove up the twisty turny roads for 1 hour 45 minutes from San Diego to look around the museum and observatory. I’m sure it would’ve been much better with a tour. My kids thought it was boring. I’m glad there was no admission fee or parking fee. The drive up was fun because my car takes tight turns really well. I’m glad I wasn’t in my suburban. That would’ve been a nightmare.

I took the 1 hour, 15 minute scenic drive here this past Sunday to try to catch the 130p tour. Unfortunately, when we arrived at 1p, we found out that the tour was already booked! It is such a shame & there is no way of knowing before you take the long drive because you can only buy tickets at the Palomar Observatory gift shop. The cashier informed me that they do this because the observatory can be closed due to weather conditions. Personally, I would rather take the risk of buying tickets beforehand & getting a refund due to bad weather versus driving all the way there only to find out that the tour is completely booked! :(
The 1 hour observatory tour is only available on Saturdays & Sundays at 11a or 130p. The cashier informed us that both times on Saturdays & 130p on Sundays tend to book quickly so plan accordingly (maybe be there 2 hours ahead of time to buy tickets). 11a on Sundays are a better choice to come.
The observatory outside is cool & you are able to see a tiny (& I mean tiny) section of the observatory.

Came here on Sunday afternoon to take the guided tour. This was my first time here after living in San Diego for 30 years! The drive up is windy, but paved roads. Lots of motorcyclists zooming past. The observatory is at 5500 feet and you climb to that elevation fairly quickly. The views are spectacular.
When we got to the observatory, we had a picnic lunch at the picnic area in the front. It seemed to be the thing to do with lots of people. It’s so beautiful and peaceful up there. I was definitely in my happy place with the smell of the trees, sound of the birds, and the fresh crisp air (it was about 68 degrees and windy).
We went into the visitor center/​gift shop first to purchase our tour tickets. There is a gallery of things to look at and learn about the history of the telescope. This also has restrooms.
We walked the path up to the observatory and took our guided tour. The docents were funny and passionate about the telescope. Really amazing to learn so much history about it. Made me appreciate it even more.
Inside the dome it was very chilly. You definitely should bring a jacket if the weather is on the colder side. The tour lasted an hour (they needed to let the researchers get back to work) and was very informative. There are restrooms in the dome as well.
They allowed photos to be taken and even encouraged it.
If you are going to the observatory, I highly recommend spending the $ 5 for the tour.
What a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon… a Sunday drive, breathtaking scenery, and learning something new.
oh…and just be prepared, we didn’t get cell service up there. It was nice to not be connected, but keep that in mind.

The tours are on schedules that you have to plan for. They are only $ 5 and very informational. The Docents do a great job and truly seem to love what they do. I highly recommend this tour if you are in the area. My only complaint is that they would not let me open the dome and fry ants with the 200″ mirror.

After taking a winding road up Palomar Mountain, you can find Palomar Observatory owned and operated by CalTech. Because it is an active research facility on a mountain that does get snow, you’ll want to use their call-​ahead number to find out if they are open before you head all the way up there. Self-​guided tours of their museum and the the visitor’s gallery by the Hale Telescope are available. There is a free audio available on their website to supplement your visit.
Guided tours are offered April-​October at 11 and 1:30 on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are first-​come, first-​serve and available at the Gift Shop and are reasonably priced at $ 5 for adults, $ 3 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under. The guided tours allow you to go inside of the Hale dome and get a closer look at the telescope and hear more about the history and how in the world they built the scope. The interior of the dome is kept at a similar temperature as the night sky is predicted to be, so it can be cool. Being from a place that gets quite a bit colder than California during half of the year, I thought it felt quite nice in there, but those from warmer climes found it a bit chilly.
The museum is small but very interesting, including informational displays, films, and some interactive exhibits, focusing on space, astronomy, and people and discoveries specific to Palomar.
There are a number of volunteers who staffed the tours, and they were all really friendly and helpful.
Great place to visit, especially if you’re interested in astronomy.

Upon arrival, the first place you encounter is the museum/​visitor center and gift shop with the huge Hale Telescope in the background.
At the visitor center you’ll learn a little about the observatory and it’s history
~ The Palomar’s telescopes, and it’s discoveries.
~ George Ellery Hale, the father of astrophysics.
~ Cool photos and information about galaxies, nebulas, and the instruments used to take these photos. Very interesting!
~ A couple of interactive exhibits.
~ And I didn’t mind spending money in the gift shop to help support the research.
As far as the Hale Telescope and the visitor gallery, you’ll get a get a direct view of the telescope from the ground floor. There’s also display panels describing the telescope’s components, the 200-​inch primary mirror, and how light passes inside the telescope.
~ This was the first telescope to discover quasars. Something I didn’t know.
I enjoyed it here, but honestly, I was expecting more. Not sure exactly what, but I guess killing a few hours here is fine. Maybe because I was expecting to visit the other telescopes. No big deal. Maybe I’ll try a tour group next time.
Definitely a different activity! I mean, how often do you really go out to visit an observatory? It’s unique, as it is truly a site to see!
Tips:
~ Call before you make the drive out, and make sure they’re definitely open.
~ Fill up with gas, as it’s a long stretch up Palomar mountain.
~ Good luck getting a signal to check in on Unilocal.
~ Respect the rules of the facility, and keep the grounds clean. We’re just lucky this place allows visitors.

Reach for the stars. Literally.
The drive up to the observatory had my car climbing over 3000 feet into the stratosphere where the air is thin and not a sound can be heard for miles around. An unassuming fence welcomes visitors into the parking lot. The observatory parking lot tends to be filled with tour buses.
The observatory had 2 buildings to visit: A visitor center and the giant telescope. Both buildings were finished in shiny white marble, very beautiful looking. The place looks like a monument to science that Cal Tech built so that if one day man was wiped off the face of the planet, there would be no doubt that ours was an intelligent species.

Excellent spot for a day with kids for fun n learn. The Palomar observatory is located atop the Palomar mountain (obvious isn’t ?) making it a fun filled ride with twists n turns. The observatory is about 5 miles further from the actual address that gps would take you but it’s straight ahead so no chance to get lost. The museum is right at entrance which helps you know what to expect and what research is /​was done at the observatory.
Ever wondered the how the recent pictures from NASA of hand of god were taken with all those vibrant colors showing where as when we look at the sky it’s just black n white? OR how do scientist find that the asteroid would come close but would not hit the earth as shown in those countless sci-​fy movies? Here at the museum you find the experiments and info that answers it.
Though you don’t get to see through the Hale telescope itself, the sheer size and complexity of telescope makes you wonder about the design that was done so many years ago that includes the rotating dome n other fun things like the heated suits with hanging cables.
We learned at the gift shop that the guided tours are conducted during April n October and during that time one can visit on the actual telescope floor.
So our next visit is guaranteed to be during that time!

If you live in San Diego County you have to come see this extraordinary spot! The drive up Mt. Palomar is full of twist and turns for those that seek an adventure on a bike, motorcycle, or car. Just remember to always do the speed limit and watch with caution! You will reach elevation of over 5,000 ft. There are a few turn outs where you can stop to take pictures or rest your legs. Once you get to the top you will come to the entrance of the Palomar Observatory! There is a Museum and Gift store located inside. The Observatory closes by 3:00 PM and the gift shop by 2:45. The views are incredible and who knew learning about stars and science could be so much fun! you are able to go inside the building to the this massive telescope! You can also purchase tours to go on the inside of the glass but taking a look is absolutely FREE!!!
Pets are allowed but can not go inside the buildings. This is very unique and it was awesome learning about the stars! It’s Out of this World!

The star of the various telescopes here is the Hale 200 inch reflector. It is one of the largest of it’s type in the world.
You can see the telescope (not view through it) in the gallery section of its dome.
The location of the overall facility is beautiful, with small a pond where kids can fish, to large areas for walking and hiking. It is all free, no charge. We brought our own food and drinks in an cooler.
The museum is very good, and the various other scopes are interesting. Docents were present.
It was warm during the day, but it was getting chilly towards the evening, 42dgr.(we were here this past Sat.). At 5,500 feet, we were able to see Anza-​Borrego Desert State Park way down below in the distance.
Hale is one of the largest telescopes ever built. Mt. Wilson has a 100 inch and a 60 inch, and Griffith Park Observatory has a 12 inch refractor. All of the obvervatories have other various telescopes such as those devoted to the sun.
You don’t need astronomy as one of your hobbies to enjoy this place. Just being adventurous is enough.

TOTALLY CLUELESS as when they are going to be open. The web site says «open on weekdays.» But when I called to confirm, all I could get was a BUSY signal. So their phone number is worthless. We ended up driving all the way up there to see that it was closed. You would think they CARED about their visitors, but apparently not…

Unlike a certain touristy other place in LA, this is the real deal, a working observatory owned by Caltech that allows tours inside the dome during summer. The 200-​inch diameter Hale telescope was the largest during its time before the Keck 1 & 2 and GTC took over.
Tours are conducted Oct to May at 11am and 1:30pm on weekends, tour tickets are $ 5 and sold at the gift shop first-​come first-​served. Each tour has 30 people max, and the tickets tend to sell out on holiday weekends, so come early to snag a ticket and avoid disappointment. Don’t expect to peer through the scope, this ain’t the $ 50 junk you get at Toys R Us. Even the researchers don’t do that, CCDs and infra-​red equipment are attached at the end, not an eyepiece.
If you don’t manage to get on the tour, there is also a viewing gallery which you can have a view of the inside of the dome and the technicians prepping the scope. The observatory parking lot closes at 4pm in summer and 3pm in winter where they kick everyone out and preparations for observations begin.
For the uninitiated, the mountainous road up and down is a slightly white-​knuckle drive, especially downhill with several hairpin turns and steep grades. Lower the gear and do not ride your brakes or you will boil the brake fluid and kill the brakes and rotors. There are a couple of biker groups that practice on weekends. Move aside and let them pass. :P
Definitely a place to let your inner geek escape and Initial-​D drift racing dreams run havoc.

Cool place… always wanted to see this since I was a kid but never found the time. Next time I’d actually like to see something if they have public shows…
I didn’t have a sports car but I WISH I had one — between the rice rockets, porsches, and a BUNCH of souped up Cadillac CTSV’s…or some other FAST version of a Cadillac… I was major jealous.

Rode in with a friend and took a walk around the property. Landscaping is clean but lacking refinement, but it’s difficult not to love the surroundings. Trees, wildlife, open skies, and a giant freaking telescope!
I can’t say much about this observatory because it’s quite small with little going on, but my goodness if the Hale telescope is not an amazing sight to see.
Come up to the observatory and stretch your legs out around the grounds and don’t forget to read the little tutorials in the welcome center.
The view is hard to beat, even with a giant telescope in the way… though in my opinion, the Hale telescope adds to the scenery. =)

I’m not going to rate the observatory but rather the drive up to there.
If you have a sports car with good tires, good shocks, and a racing attitude, this drive is amazing. Not only is it an amazing mountainous road like the one up to Big Bear, but the view is beautiful.
Be careful for dirt/​gravel though. I almost fishtailed on the way down.

The drive up here is unnerving when your husband neglects to gas up the car, and the nearest gas station is in Pala… but other than that, I loved this place. Unfortunately for me, the inside of the dome was closed for a Friends of Palomar Observatory tour, but the two museums and the dome itself are worth the time to come out here.
Also, if it’s rained in San Diego, it was snowing up here… so dress warm and have a snow ball fight!

It was Sunday so the observatory was rather empty. We used the facilities and checked out the telescope which by the way was nifty, but again, it was Sunday. Nada was going on. However, there were tour groups and families that did pass through anyway.
It’s a beautiful campus that was a throwback to the 1950s — given the architecture that was reminiscent of government institutions — even though the telescope goes further back than the 1950s.
I’ll make sure to come back to fully justify that 4^th star. :P

Definitely worth the trip from San Diego if you are of a science geek bent or know someone who is.
Just remember when packing that it is usually FRIGGING COLD at 5500 ft elevation. The telescope building itself is kept very cool in order to minimize distortions due to expansion and contraction, so if you want to stay in the «fishbowl» to view maintenance of the telescope, plan for meatlocker temperatures. Gents, you may want to pack gloves if you plan on taking a leak in the washrooms.
The nearby museum has displays about the telescope itself and the engineering feats that allowed it to happen, e.g. the invention of Pyrex allowed the 200 inch mirror to be cast since it doesn’t contract and expand very much. There are also great pictures of the universe and the usual mind blowing astronomical numerical comparisons. Most of the displays are images and text or computer touchscreen displays, so there are not many tactile exhibits for small kids. There is a small gift shop selling astronomically themed shirts etc. but there is no fudge shop to pollute the local ambiance.
The telescope area is closed at 4pm and the parking lot closes at 4:45pm.
P. S. If you are planning on trying the 2 mile hike which terminates outside the parking lot, it looks as if it has been bulldozed to create a fire break. The path is thus full of overturned rocks and fresh roots waiting to claim your ankles.