High on Palomar Mountain, at an elevation of 5500ft to minimize light pollution, the Palomar Observatory is simply spectacular – as large as Rome’s Pantheon, with a classic design dating from the 1930s. Run by Pasadena’s prestigious California Institute of Technology, it houses five telescopes including the 200-inch Hale Telescope, once the world's largest. Download the free audio tour from the website before you arrive.
Guided tours are available first-come first-served on weekends between April and October. Bring a fleece jacket – temperatures inside the observatory are just above freezing.
Call ahead to check road conditions before making the long, winding drive here.
