Mr. Palomar Observatory at dusk
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Mt Palomar, astrophysics, cosmology

Palomar Observatory

San Diego


High on Palomar Mountain, at an elevation of 5500ft to avoid light pollution, the Palomar Observatory is simply spectacular – as large as Rome’s Pantheon, with a classic design dating from the 1930s. Run by Pasadena’s prestigious California Institute of Technology, it houses five telescopes including the 200-inch Hale Telescope, once the world's largest.

On weekends between April and October, visitors can take guided tours, usually given at 11am and 1:30pm. Tickets are first-come, first-served. Bring a fleece jacket – temperatures inside the observatory hover just above freezing during cooler months.

Call ahead to check road conditions and opening hours before making the long, winding drive here.


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