WELCOME
Every year in October, we throw our gates open and welcome the community to a fun-filled, Sun-filled day of learning about astronomy, engaging in space-themed crafts and activities, winning science prizes, and enjoying locally made ice cream and steel drum music. Unfortunately, that's just not possible this year. So instead we've created a way for you to safely replicate the experience from home. (You'll have to supply the music and ice cream, however.)
In the tabs below you can:
- Sneak a peek at some seldom-seen nooks and crannies in our building, like our astronomical plate vault and sub-basement ruling engine
- Meet some of our instrumentation specialists and learn how they use our Machine Shop to design experiments and drive new discoveries
- Hear about astronomical discoveries that happened during the 1918 Flu pandemic
- Tour Mount Wilson Observatory and Las Campanas Observatory, and learn about the Giant Magellan Telescope
- Get instructions for fun at-home or classroom astronomy activities
You can also participate in daily #AskAnAstronomer polls on our Twitter feed and join us Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Pacific for a stargazing party on our Zoom channel.
We look forward to a time when we can once again welcome you to our Pasadena campus. Until then, please enjoy our 2020 Virtual Open House!