Green Bank Observatory
From Aug. 15, 2026 to May 27, 2027 the Science Center is open Thursday to Monday and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, though the page's summary table still reads Monday to Sunday.
A radio astronomy observatory in West Virginia with a free Science Center and exhibit hall, a paid bus tour of the grounds, and behind-the-scenes tours by registration.
Ways to visit
Science Center and Exhibit Hall Open
School-year hours run Aug. 15, 2026 to May 27, 2027: closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The page's summary table still reads Monday to Sunday.
- What you see
- Visitor center, Exhibitsgreenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- How
- Walk in · about 2 hoursgreenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- When
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSunThursday to Monday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Aug. 15, 2026 to May 27, 2027; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays and on the listed holidays. The site suggests planning 2 hours for a full visit. In summer (June 1 to Aug. 14) it opens 7 days a week.Closed: Thanksgiving holiday (Nov. 26-27, 2026), Winter holidays (Dec. 23-26, 2026), New Year's (Dec. 30, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027)Calendar ↗greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26 · greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Not required · same day possibleNo booking for the exhibit hall. Groups, field trips and special tours need advance reservations.greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- FreeScience Center and exhibit hall admission is free; fees are charged for tours and some programs.greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- Photography: Yes. Digital cameras, smartphones included, may be used around the Science Center and the Observation Deck. Visitors are asked to disable wireless signals on their phones on arrival.
Self-guided grounds walk and trails Open
- What you see
- Grounds, View from outsidegreenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- How
- Walk ingreenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- When
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSunEvery day from sunrise to sunset. The walk to the Green Bank Telescope is 1.5 miles one way, following a scale model of the solar system.greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Not required · same day possibleNo booking; maps are outside the Science Center entrance or in a printable PDF.greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- FreeFree.greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- Photography: Yes. Film cameras can be used in all public areas. Digital cameras, smartphones included, only around the Science Center and Observation Deck; power them off before passing the gate or taking trails into the restricted zone.
Guided Bus Tour of the Grounds Open
Tours run as availability allows and sometimes sell out.
- What you see
- Grounds, View from outsidegreenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- How
- Scheduled tour · about 60 minutesgreenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- When
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSunOn open days at 10:00, 12:00, 2:00 and 4:00 as availability allows, about an hour. Open days from Aug. 15, 2026 are Thursday to Monday.Closed: Thanksgiving holiday (Nov. 26-27, 2026), Winter holidays (Dec. 23-26, 2026), New Year's (Dec. 30, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027)Calendar ↗greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26 · greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Not required · same day possible · online or on site or by phoneTickets online in advance or in the gift shop on the day. Tours occasionally sell out in busy seasons and for large groups, so call 304-456-2150 if your dates are fixed.Book (shop.greenbankobservatory.org) ↗greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- PaidBus tour with presentation, ages 6+: $10 · Presentation without bus tour (30 minutes), ages 6+: $5 · Children 5 and under: free · Veterans and active duty service members: freeThe page says various discounts apply.greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- Photography: Yes. Film cameras only behind the gates; digital cameras, smartphones included, must be powered off before passing through the gate. Power off electronics completely or leave them in your vehicle.
High Tech Tour Open
The page notes this tour tends to sell out most of the year.
- What you see
- Inside tourgreenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- How
- Scheduled tour · about 1.5 hoursgreenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- When
- The 2nd Thursday of every month, starting at 3:30 p.m. and ending at about 5 p.m.; length varies with the engineer and group size.Calendar ↗greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Required · closes 3 days ahead · onlineAdvance registration is required. Tickets go on sale about a month ahead in the online shop. A Visitor Registration Form for a clearance check must be submitted at least 72 hours in advance.Book (shop.greenbankobservatory.org) ↗greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- PaidPer person: $25greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- Personal details in advance: Yes. A Visitor Registration Form for a clearance check, at least 72 hours before the tour.
- Photography: No. No photography of any kind inside the Jansky Laboratory.
SETI Tour Seasonal
Offered on select Fridays from April to September, so not running in late October.
- What you see
- Inside tourgreenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- How
- Scheduled tour · about 2.5 hoursgreenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- When
- Select Fridays from April to September; the online shop lists available times. The tour lasts 2.5 hours.Season: 04-01 to 09-30 (The page says select Fridays from April to September; exact dates are in the online shop.)Calendar ↗greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Required · closes 3 days ahead · onlineAdvance registration is required and tours usually sell out. A Visitor Registration Form for a clearance check must be submitted at least 72 hours in advance.Book (shop.greenbankobservatory.org) ↗greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- PaidPer person: $40greenbankobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- Personal details in advance: Yes. A Visitor Registration Form for a clearance check, at least 72 hours before the tour.
- Fitness and accessibility: Yes. Some of the historic sites visited are reached by stairs. Accommodations can be made for parts of the tour with a week's notice.
- Photography: Yes. Film cameras only: digital cameras are not allowed near the telescopes. Phones and other electronics must be turned off for most of the tour.
About
Green Bank Observatory is the home of the Green Bank Telescope and lies inside the National Radio Quiet Zone, so visitors switch off wireless devices on arrival. The Science Center's exhibit hall is free, the grounds can be walked on your own from sunrise to sunset, and a one-hour bus tour takes visitors behind the gates for a fee. Longer behind-the-scenes tours need advance registration and a clearance check. From Aug. 15, 2026 the Science Center is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Run by: Green Bank Observatory.
Where official pages disagree
- Science Center and Exhibit Hall: days and hours: The Visit page, the Science Center page and the top of the Hours page show 'Monday – Sunday 9:30 AM — 5:30 PM'. The detailed 2026 hours on the Hours page say Thursday to Monday, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from Aug. 15, 2026 to May 27, 2027. This listing follows the detailed section. greenbankobservatory.org/visit/ · greenbankobservatory.org/visit/science-center/ · greenbankobservatory.org/visit/science-center-hours-an…
Getting there
155 Observatory Rd, Green Bank, WV, 24944
There is no cell service in Green Bank; the observatory is in the National Radio Quiet Zone, so download or print directions beforehand. On arrival turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular data, and power off other wireless devices or leave them in the car when going behind the gates. Medical devices do not have to be turned off.
The pin marks the site itself, not necessarily the entrance (38.43790, -79.83617). Apple Maps directions go to the street address instead. Show on our map · Google Maps · Apple Maps
Visitor questions: 304-456-2150 · visit@gbobservatory.org
Last checked 2026-10-26. Sources are listed below.
Sources
- greenbankobservatory.org/visit/ · official page · read 2026-10-26For: name; directions; phone and email; Science Center and Exhibit Hall: requirements; Self-guided grounds walk and trails: open or closed; Self-guided grounds walk and trails: kind of visit; Self-guided grounds walk and trails: days and hours; Self-guided grounds walk and trails: booking; Self-guided grounds walk and trails: requirements; Guided Bus Tour of the Grounds: requirements
- wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityData/Q4167… · Wikidata · read 2026-10-26For: location
- greenbankobservatory.org/visit/getting-here/ · official page · read 2026-10-26For: street address; directions
- greenbankobservatory.org/visit/science-center-hours-an… · official page · read 2026-10-26For: Science Center and Exhibit Hall: open or closed; Science Center and Exhibit Hall: days and hours; Science Center and Exhibit Hall: cost; Guided Bus Tour of the Grounds: days and hours; Guided Bus Tour of the Grounds: cost
- greenbankobservatory.org/visit/science-center/ · official page · read 2026-10-26For: Science Center and Exhibit Hall: what you see; Science Center and Exhibit Hall: kind of visit; Science Center and Exhibit Hall: days and hours; Science Center and Exhibit Hall: booking; Self-guided grounds walk and trails: what you see; Self-guided grounds walk and trails: cost; Guided Bus Tour of the Grounds: open or closed; Guided Bus Tour of the Grounds: what you see; Guided Bus Tour of the Grounds: kind of visit; Guided Bus Tour of the Grounds: days and hours; Guided Bus Tour of the Grounds: booking; High Tech Tour: open or closed; High Tech Tour: what you see; High Tech Tour: kind of visit; High Tech Tour: days and hours; High Tech Tour: booking; High Tech Tour: cost; High Tech Tour: requirements; SETI Tour: open or closed; SETI Tour: what you see; SETI Tour: kind of visit; SETI Tour: days and hours; SETI Tour: booking; SETI Tour: cost; SETI Tour: requirements
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