Best Observatory Pasadena Near Me

4worldlovers: There is plenty of life here on Earth, but where else might it be found? In Signs of Life, we discover what it took to put life in the universe in the one place where we know it exists. We see how the laws of chemistry and physics drive cosmic evolution, and we travel through the solar system, the Milky Way Galaxy, and beyond in a search for more signs of life.

Travel to the farthest reaches of the universe and into the microscopic building blocks of life. Live presentations immerse you in the wonder and meaning of the cosmos.

People have always looked at the sky and wondered what is really out there. Our 60 exhibits make you an observer and show you what we know.

The largest urban-wilderness municipal park in the United States, Griffith Park is filled with trails, trees, trains, attractions… and the Hollywood Sign!

Anyone can be an observer, and we are here to help. You may look through our free public telescopes or use our astronomical information to observe from your own backyard. Check out the weekly Sky Report to see what you can observe in Los Angeles.

Live shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, live Tesla Coil demonstrations, and your chance to observe with our public telescope observing are offered every day. Check the schedule!

Virtual and in-person programs – including public star parties, All Space Considered, and the Sunset Walk-and-Talk – return each month as reliably as the phases of the Moon!

Griffith Observatory reliably connects you to unusual sights in the sky, the changing seasons, visiting astronomers and their latest discoveries, and more.

4worldlovers:
SRO was originally designed and built, and continues to be owned and operated by amateur astronomers. This observatory has served its members, science investigators, students and the public (through planned outreach programs) since its completion in 1963.

Our observatory is perched on a ridge above the 2000-foot deep Devil's Canyon, about 6 miles (9.7 km) north by north-east of the historic Mt. Wilson Observatory. Stony Ridge is located very near a site that had been considered for the location of George Ellery Hale's "new" 200-inch (5-m) telescope. That location was at "Horse Flats" described in this 1928 paper.

After a 45-minute drive along the Angeles Crest Highway north of Pasadena, California, the visitor arrives at Stony Ridge Observatory in the heart of the beautiful Angeles National Forest.

We invite you to browse our web site by starting with our History page, or by visiting our SRO Vistas Gallery to view some of our members' photographs of the Stony Ridge area.

Above: Photo of a bronze plaque mounted next to the entrance door of the Stony Ridge dome. The names are those of the original 15 founding members of Stony Ridge Observatory. An asteroid, (10168) Stony Ridge, was discovered at SRO in 1995 and named to honor these members. Another asteroid, (144633) Georgecarroll was discovered at SRO in 2004 and was named in tribute to the founder who designed, and was the principal builder of, the 30-inch (0.76-m) telescope at Stony Ridge Observatory.

The original Carroll chain drive on the 30-inch (0.76-m) telescope has been reinstalled and upgraded with an advanced computer control system.

The Station Fire (2009) still shows its brand on Stony Ridge Observatory. Dead and still-standing trees are everywhere at the site. During the recent high wind events at SRO, many of these trees were blown over, sometimes blocking access to the observatory.