Mount Wilson Observatory

Founded in December 1904 by George Ellery Hale, Mount Wilson Observatory would quickly rise to dominate astronomy worldwide. It was successively home to the world's two largest telescopes as well as the most powerful facilities in existence for studying the sun. Those pioneering instruments and the brilliant scientists who used them revolutionized astronomy through such discoveries as:

relocating the sun far from the center of the Milky Way galaxy
the existence of countless galaxies and an enormous Universe
the magnetic field of the sun and its key role in solar activity
the recession of the galaxies implying the Big Bang
populations of stars of various ages

In the twenty-first century, the Observatory hosts several of the most technologically advanced facilities in the world for studying astronomical objects with unprecedented resolution and clarity. The 100-inch Hooker telescope remains in active scientific service, and the solar towers are daily collecting data representing the world's longest continuous record of the sun.

Since 1986, Mt. Wilson Observatory has been operated under an agreement with the Carnegie Institution of Washington (CIW) by the Mount Wilson Institute (MWI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose mission focuses on scientific research, historic preservation, astronomical education and public outreach. Guest institutions operating facilities on the Observatory grounds include: the University of California, Berkeley; Georgia State University; the University of California, Los Angeles; and the University of Southern California.

Second Century Campaign - As Mount Wilson continues into its second century, a capital campaign is being developed to preserve this great observatory for future generations. The goals of the campaign are four-fold:

Restore and preserve the Observatory's historic facilities
Preserve Mount Wilson as a site for on-going scientific research
Create extensive new on-site facilities to foster public understanding of the Mount Wilson heritage and its continuing role in contemporary astronomy
Launch on-site and internet-based outreach programs that capitalize on the Mount Wilson tradition to inspire a new generation of scientists.

The major element of the Second Century Campaign is a wonderful new Visitor Center that will transform Mount Wilson into an important Southern California destination. You can support this campaign with a tax-deductible membership in The Friends of Mount Wilson Observatory. Mount Wilson receives no support from federal or state resources, and your FOMWO membership is critical to the preservation of this treasure of world science and engineering.

View the Universe through Mount Wilson's historic 60-inch telescope, the largest in the world made exclusively available to the public. Celebrate your special occasion or indulge your interest in astronomy with a memorable and unique experience. Many great nights of observing are still available for the 2009 season.

Become a Volunteer - Mount Wilson is recruiting volunteer docents to lead guided tours of the Observatory and its historic facilities. We particularly need volunteers who can serve on weekdays.

Photo courtesy Eric Simison, Sea West Enterprises

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