Palomar Observatory

Self-guided visit (Visitor Center and Visitors Gallery) Open

What you see

Visitor center, Exhibits, Groundssites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

How

Walk insites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

When

MonTueWedThuFriSatSunOpen daily from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm Pacific, with the exceptions listed. Visitor gates close promptly at those times, and severe winter weather can close the site, so the page asks visitors to check before driving up.Closed: Caltech institutional holidays (e.g., Juneteenth, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, December 24 through January 3), certain maintenance operations, possible weather emergenciessites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

Booking

Not statedThe visiting page describes walk-in visits and doesn't mention reservations for the self-guided visit.sites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

Cost

Not stated on the official pageThe visiting page doesn't state an admission fee for self-guided visits. Guided tours are priced separately.sites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

Requirements

None stated.

Not stated on the official page: photo ID, citizenship, residency, minimum age, height, fitness and accessibility, safety gear, photography, personal details in advance.Fitness and accessibility: Access to the Visitors Gallery requires 70 steps. The Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible; the dome is not.sites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

Classic guided tour (Hale Telescope) Seasonal

Weekends only this season: Saturday April 11 to Sunday November 1, 2026.

What you see

Inside toursites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

How

Scheduled tour, Walk in · about 60 minutessites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

When

MonTueWedThuFriSatSunSaturdays and Sundays, from April 11 to November 1, 2026. Starts are at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm, from the northwest side of the Hale dome. Tours are roughly one hour long.Season: 2026-04-11 to 2026-11-01 (Weekends, Saturday April 11 to Sunday November 1, 2026)Closed: tours may be canceled for observatory operations or staffingsites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

Booking

Required · same day possible · on siteTickets are required and go on sale on the day at the Gift and Book Store, first come, first served. There are no online or advance sales.sites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

Cost

PaidAdult: $8 · Children ages 5 to 14 and seniors 65 and over: $5Maximum 6 tickets per customer. Electronic payment only (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay); no cash.sites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

Requirements

• Fitness and accessibility: Yes. Many stairs and steps; no wheelchair access to the Hale Telescope dome.

Not stated on the official page: photo ID, citizenship, residency, minimum age, height, safety gear, photography, personal details in advance.Minimum age: Caltech recommends against children under 5 on classic tours. This is a recommendation, not a rule.sites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

Family tour (select dates, reservation required) Seasonal

Held on select dates between April and October; the dates are not listed on the page.

What you see

Inside toursites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

How

Scheduled tour · up to 20 people · about 45 minutessites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

When

Held on select dates from April to October, with the tour starting at 11:30 am. Pick up tickets at the Gift and Book Store in the Visitor Center before walking up to the dome. Each tour is limited to 20 participants.Season: (April to October, select dates)sites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

Booking

Required · onlineReservations are required in advance, through the reservation form linked from the tours page. A family can reserve up to five tickets per group.Book (sites.astro.caltech.edu) ↗sites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

Cost

PaidOne adult and one child: $14 · Each additional guest, up to five total: $4Maximum $26 per group. Children age 4 and younger join free. Electronic payment only.sites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26

Requirements

• Fitness and accessibility: Yes. Many stairs and steps; no wheelchair access to the Hale Telescope dome.

Not stated on the official page: photo ID, citizenship, residency, minimum age, height, safety gear, photography, personal details in advance.Minimum age: Designed for families with children ages 7 to 14; younger children are welcome.sites.astro.caltech.edu, 2026-10-26