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Palomar Mountain
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    Palomar Observatory

    131 Reviews
    #1 of 1 things to do in Palomar Mountain
    Observatories & Planetariums, Museums
    35899 Canfield Road, Palomar Mountain, CA 92060
    +1 760-742-2119
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    Review Highlights
    “Inspiring 200" Hale Telescope”

    It's really inspiring to learn that there are three active telescopes at Palomar Observatory. We... read more

    Reviewed 6 days ago
    riaona
    ,
    San Diego, California
    “Awe-Inspiring”

    The mirror of the 200-inch telescope atop Palomar Mountain is the greatest and finest piece of... read more

    Reviewed 15 March 2018
    Joe G N
    Read all 131 reviews
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    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). The Observatory is home to three active research telescopes: the 200-inch (5.1-meter) Hale Telescope, the 48-inch (1.2-meter) Samuel Oschin Telescope, and the 60-inch (1.5-meter) telescope. The research is conducted by Caltech faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and students, as well as by researchers at collaborating institutions. Conceived of almost a hundred years ago, Palomar Observatory has been at the forefront of astronomical research since mid-century. Today, the observatory operates every clear night and is an iconic facility for scientific advancement, instrument development, and student training. The Observatory is a popular destination in Southern California and receives tens of thousands of visitors a year from all over the world. Most come to see the famous 200-inch (5.1-meter) Hale Telescope-for decades the largest effective telescope in operation. 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, 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 (Saturday and Sunday, start times are 11:00 am and 1:30 pm) spring through fall-typically from the first weekend in April to the last weekend October. The tours are roughly one hour long, and limited-availalbility tickets (sold exclusively on a day-of and first-come, first served basis) are required. Please plan accordingly.

    About 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). The Observatory is home to three active research telescopes: the 200-inch (5.1-meter) Hale Telescope, the 48-inch (1.2-meter) Samuel Oschin Telescope, and the 60-inch (1.5-meter) telescope. The research is conducted by Caltech faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and students, as well as by researchers at collaborating institutions. Conceived of almost a hundred years ago, Palomar Observatory has been at the forefront of astronomical research since mid-century. Today, the observatory operates every clear night and is an iconic facility for scientific advancement, instrument development, and student training. The Observatory is a popular destination in Southern California and receives tens of thousands of visitors a year from all over the world. Most come to see the famous 200-inch (5.1-meter) Hale Telescope-for decades the largest effective telescope in operation. 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, 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 (Saturday and Sunday, start times are 11:00 am and 1:30 pm) spring through fall-typically from the first weekend in April to the last weekend October. The tours are roughly one hour long, and limited-availalbility tickets (sold exclusively on a day-of and first-come, first served basis) are required. Please plan accordingly.
    4.5
    131 reviews
    • Excellent50%
    • Very good41%
    • Average7%
    • Poor2%
    • Terrible0%
    Travellers talk about
    “guided tour” (18 reviews)
    “gift shop” (21 reviews)
    “beautiful drive” (8 reviews)
    Closes in 12 min
    Hours
    Hours Today: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    Suggested Duration: 1-2 hours
    LOCATION
    35899 Canfield Road, Palomar Mountain, CA 92060
    CONTACT
    Website
    +1 760-742-2119
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    Write a ReviewReviews (131)
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    "guided tour"
    in 18 reviews
    "gift shop"
    in 21 reviews
    "beautiful drive"
    in 8 reviews
    "cal tech"
    in 5 reviews
    "inch telescope"
    in 4 reviews
    "behind glass"
    in 3 reviews
    "worth the trip"
    in 8 reviews
    "visitors' center"
    in 3 reviews
    "space exploration"
    in 3 reviews
    "small museum"
    in 6 reviews
    "day trip"
    in 8 reviews
    "national forest"
    in 3 reviews
    "picnic area"
    in 4 reviews
    "windy road"
    in 2 reviews
    "inside the building"
    in 2 reviews
    "answering questions"
    in 2 reviews
    "pack a lunch"
    in 2 reviews
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    1 - 10 of 126 reviews

    Reviewed 6 days ago
    Inspiring 200" Hale Telescope

    It's really inspiring to learn that there are three active telescopes at Palomar Observatory. We would have liked to take a tour but we were there before the 11a tour and did not want to wait around. It is amazing to take a walk around...More

    Ask riaona about Palomar Observatory
    Thank riaona
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 15 March 2018
    Awe-Inspiring

    The mirror of the 200-inch telescope atop Palomar Mountain is the greatest and finest piece of glass ever made by human beings. The story of the telescope and its history-making astronomical observations is well-told in the visitors center, and seeing the telescope itself behind glass...More

    Ask Joe G N about Palomar Observatory
    Thank Joe G N
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 27 December 2017
    Amazing piece of history

    Went to see more about this giant telescope. The road up to the observatory is quite windy so make sure to take your time going up. The view on the way up is spectacular. The park has strict closing hours so make sure to pay...More

    Ask gm_traveler_13 about Palomar Observatory
    Thank gm_traveler_13
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    See more reviews
    Reviewed 26 November 2017
    “A gem of science with a lot of tales about its travels deep in the Universe...AWESOME!”

    It makes me proud and happy of having visited it. It was in my bucket list. The mountain is gorgeous, the air clear and pristine (unbelievable in Southern California!). The dome is huge. Parking is ample, and they sell delicious Mount Palomar Spring H2O for...More

    Ask alberto927 about Palomar Observatory
    Thank alberto927
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 20 November 2017
    Beautiful drive up the mountain

    The road up the mountain to the observatory was a very nice drive. The walk to the observatory was not too far and make sure to read the signs about the rattle snakes. There are steps up to the restrooms and to see the actual...More

    Ask cherylsU6752DF about Palomar Observatory
    1  Thank cherylsU6752DF
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 19 November 2017
    Main scope boring during day, museum makes up for it

    Went there on a weekday, it's a nice half-day trip from Oceanside. Absolutely nothing going on at the main telescope building. The museum has all kinds of interesting exhibits and explanations and fun souvenirs. Booking a tour of the main scope seems smart. Best air...More

    Ask greggo8 about Palomar Observatory
    Thank greggo8
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 15 November 2017
    Excellent Guide For School Groups

    I was fortunate to be part of a school group that had a private tour of the observatory. The guide was excellent; a retired engineer and amateur astronomer, he was able to provide an in-depth explanation of the observatory, its construction, the manufacture of the...More

    Ask Dale W about Palomar Observatory
    Thank Dale W
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 14 November 2017
    Stellar observatory and museum field trip

    Worth the winding, scenic drive up the mountain. The observatory itself is quite impressive as is the small museum that's packed with informative and interactive exhibits and videos. (It's free and open daily 9-4PM.) It's makes for a great field trip for people of all...More

    Ask onthelooselive about Palomar Observatory
    Thank onthelooselive
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 9 November 2017
    A trip to the stars!

    The Observatory is a great place to visit even more so if you're a science junkie. Even getting to this place is an adventure. We drove here from Valley Center. The ride up is breath taking. The actual Observatory is not open to the public,...More

    Ask willkommenhof about Palomar Observatory
    Thank willkommenhof
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 27 October 2017
    Excellent Information about our history in Space exploration

    This is my first visit back since being in Grammer School. I would highly recommend this to anyone or family. The information available both in the Observatory and the information center is vast. To be able to see the telescopes up close is amazing. Beautiful...More

    Ask Marilyn S about Palomar Observatory
    Thank Marilyn S
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    123456…13
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    Ask a question
    Questions & Answers
    See all 8 questions
    Irene H
    18 October 2017|
    AnswerShow all 4 answers
    Response from Palomar O | Property representative |
    Hi Irene. I'm afraid you cannot. In fact, no one can look through it anymore since all eyepieces were removed decades ago. Hardly any research telescope allows anyone look through it (astronomers work behind computers since... More
    0
    Votes
    tomladuke
    29 April 2017|
    AnswerShow all 2 answers
    Response from 296pat | Reviewed this property |
    I don't think so the only think that may be difficult is to climb up the observatory theres a lot of stairs to climb. But it is a nice area for walking around maybe check out the shop there.
    0
    Votes
    Virginia R
    12 February 2017|
    AnswerShow all 3 answers
    Response from Palomar O | Property representative |
    To our knowledge, there are no major closures scheduled by the observatory (when we do, we post those on our website). However, the state is planning to begin roadwork on route 76 and Valley Center Road, which may affect... More
    0
    Votes
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