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Tours at Palomar ObservatoryThe following options are available to Palomar Observatory visitors: Self-Guided ToursMost Palomar visitors will tour the accessible areas (see map below) on their own. Public Guided Tours (June – October)![]() Map of the Observatory grounds showing the meeting location for the general tours. (Palomar/Caltech) In 2023, the guided tours will be offered on weekends starting Saturday June 10 until Sunday October 29. This year, public guided tours of the 200-inch (5.1-meter) Hale Telescope are available to visitors on the weekends (Saturday and Sunday) summer and fall—from the second weekend in June to the last weekend October. Time and LocationPublic tour start times are 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Please follow the signs from the Visitor Center to the tour meeting point. Tours start on the northwest side of the Hale Telescope dome (immediately to the left of the large service doors as viewed facing the dome from the west). To ensure you make your tour (and in consideration of others) please be on time. TicketsPublic tour tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are sold in the Gift and Book Store (Greenway Visitor Center) the day of the tour. We cannot offer online or advance ticket sales. The store opens at 9:15 am and tickets go on sale for all tours that day at that time. We accept only electronic payments—Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay—no cash transactions. Tickets are $5.00 per person, $3.00 for children (ages 5 through 12) and seniors (age 65 and over), maximum 6 tickets per customer. Tour presentations are unsuitable for children under 5 years of age, hence our minimum age requirement. Please note that tours may be cancelled due to Observatory operations or available staffing. Check this page for updates. Important Notes
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Questions? We've answered many common visiting, media, and academic questions in our public FAQ page. | ||||
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