Palomar Observatory

Palomar Observatory, located atop Palomar Mountain in north San Diego County, California, is a center of astronomical research owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Conceived of almost a hundred years ago, Palomar Observatory has been at the forefront of astronomical research since mid-century. The Observatory is a popular destination in Southern California and receives tens of thousands of visitors a year from all over the world. Whether you are an astronomy, history, or engineering enthusiast, or simply curious about the Observatory, you will enjoy visiting our museum and taking one of our guided tours of the facility. All are welcome at the Palomar Observatory, but we ask that all visitors respect our rules and procedures. Public, guided tours of the 200-inch (5.1-meter) Hale Telescope are available to visitors on the weekends, (at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:00pm) typically from the first weekend in April to the last weekend October.