Mount Wilson Observatory presents Saturday Evening Talks & Telescopes “Hubble’s Universe Today” w/ guest speaker Dr. John Mulchaey

Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO), Southern California’s esteemed home to over 100 years of groundbreaking astronomical discovery, welcomes the public to its third Saturday Evening Talks & Telescopes of the 2024 Season, taking place on Saturday, July 27. The event runs from 5:30pm to 11:30pm with the “talk” portion of the evening beginning in the Observatory’s Auditorium. MWO is honored to present a lecture by Dr. John Mulchaey, Science Deputy and Director of Carnegie Observatories, entitled “Hubble’s Universe Today.” During the six-month season, each Talks & Telescopes presentation is followed by picnic dining—bring your own or buy dinner from a visiting food truck—and then stargazing through Mount Wilson’s immense telescopes, the largest in the world made available to the public, after the sun goes down.

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. Bruce's Twisted Barbecue ascends the mountain for July’s epicurean adventure. Tickets are priced at $50, the most economical stargazing event option of the season. Find tickets for all Talks & Telescopes events on Mount Wilson Observatory’s website here: https://www.mtwilson.edu/lectures Advance purchases are highly recommended.

In Dr. Mulchaey’s presentation, audience members will be the beneficiaries of a 21st century perspective of the cosmos. He will talk about our modern understanding of galaxies, particularly distant ones, and the expanding universe, based largely on observations from the Hubble Space Telescope (launched April, 1990) and the James Webb Space Telescope (launched December, 2021).

VISITING MWO
The gates to Mount Wilson’s campus open at 10:00am daily and close at 5:00pm in the spring and summer, and 4:00pm in the fall. 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 Café, located above the parking lot at the Observatory entrance, is open on weekends in the spring, summer, and fall, weather permitting. In addition to traditional menu items such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks, the Café is offering various lunch and sweet treats from Little Flower Café: https://www.mtwilson.edu/cosmic-cafe/

LOCATION
Mount Wilson Observatory
100 Mt Wilson Circle Rd
Mount Wilson, CA 91023

On MWO’s website the “Map” page shows various SoCal routes to the 2 and 210 Freeways which feed into Angeles Crest Highway, which goes to Red Box Road, which then leads to Mount Wilson Circle Road: https://www.mtwilson.edu/1map

PARKING
A U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass is required to park at the Observatory, as it is located on U.S. Forest Service land. A day pass may be purchased at the Cosmic Cafe. The $5 day pass or a $30 dollar annual pass may be purchased at other locations around Los Angeles before heading up. Visit the U.S. Forest Service website for more information about the $5 Adventure Pass and where to buy them: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=st…

NOT ADA-COMPLIANT
Please be advised that access to the dome performances is via a 53-step staircase. There is no ADA-compliant access.

For more information about Visiting Mount Wilson Observatory, please visit: https://www.mtwilson.edu/visiting