Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO), Southern California\u2019s esteemed home to several of the most groundbreaking astronomical discoveries in history, welcomes the public to the third Saturday Evening Talks & Telescopes of the season on Saturday, July 25, 2026.<\/p>\n
MWO is honored to present \u201cGraphic Talk About Science: Adventures in Science Engagement,\u201d a lecture by Clifford V. Johnson, from UCSB. This lecture explores how graphic storytelling can make cutting-edge physics more accessible, as Johnson discusses the science and creative process behind his illustrated book, \u201cThe Dialogues: Conversations About the Nature of the Universe.\u201d Tickets are available here: www.mtwilson.edu\/events\/lecture072526<\/a><\/p>\n During the six-month season, each Talks & Telescopes event runs from 5:30pm to 11:30pm with the \u201ctalk\u201d portion of the evening beginning in the Observatory\u2019s Auditorium. The 60+ minute presentation is followed by picnic dining\u2014bring your own, or purchase from a food truck or caterer\u2014and then, after the sun goes down, stargazing through Mount Wilson\u2019s immense telescopes, the largest in the world made available to the public. Additional stargazing around the grounds will be available thanks to members of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society.<\/p>\n Both the 60-inch telescope and the 100-inch\u2014the latter famously used by Edwin Hubble to discover the expanding universe\u2014will 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\u2019s website here: www.mtwilson.edu\/lectures<\/a>. Advance purchases are highly recommended.<\/p>\n UPCOMING SATURDAY EVENING TALKS & TELESCOPES OF THE 2026 SEASON<\/p>\n August 22: \u201cTowards a Functional Cosmology\u201d www.mtwilson.edu\/events\/lecture082226<\/a> September 19: \u201cThe Brightness of Stars: Henrietta Leavitt and the Transformative Nature of Attention in Art and Science\u201d www.mtwilson.edu\/events\/lecture091926<\/a> October 17: \u201cThe Duality of Genius and Struggle: G.E. Hale\u201d www.mtwilson.edu\/events\/lecture101726<\/a> VISITING MWO The Cosmic Cafe (www.mtwilson.edu\/cosmic-cafe<\/a>), 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 Cafe offers wraps, salads, and sweet treats from Little Flower.<\/p>\n PARKING
Join artist Lita Albuquerque for a lecture on her multidisciplinary practice at the intersection of art, science, and cosmology. Drawing on decades of work across painting, land art, performance, and installation, she reflects on projects created in remote, astronomy-linked environments and how they shape her exploration of time, space, and human perception.<\/p>\n
Visual artist and author Anna Von Mertens explores the life and legacy of Henrietta Leavitt, whose study of variable stars enabled the first reliable measurements of cosmic distances. Working among the Harvard Computers, Leavitt laid the foundation for breakthroughs at Mount Wilson, including Harlow Shapley\u2019s mapping of the Milky Way and Edwin Hubble\u2019s discovery of an expanding universe. Drawing from her book \u201cAttention Is Discovery: The Life and Legacy of Astronomer Henrietta Leavitt,\u201d Von Mertens shares archival materials alongside her own artwork inspired by Leavitt\u2019s life, to celebrate how careful attention leads to both scientific discovery and a meaningful life.<\/p>\n
This talk, presented by Sam Hale, explores the extraordinary life and legacy of his grandfather, George Ellery Hale\u2014the visionary behind some of the world\u2019s most important astronomical institutions. Drawing on both history and personal connection, Sam Hale offers insight into a legacy that continues to shape science and culture today.<\/p>\n
The gate to Mount Wilson\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>). Visit the U.S. Forest Service website for more information about Passes and other locations to buy them: www.fs.usda.gov\/r05\/passes\/adventure-pass<\/a><\/p>\n