Grades 4-12 STEM Program

The Grades 4–12 STEM Program includes observing through the historic telescopes, lectures, concerts, educational programs, and public telescope nights. Participants may also attend concerts in the Dome, Talks & Telescopes, Arts @ the Observatory, Solar Observing, public ticket nights, and a variety of tours, including Weekend Public Tours, Engineering Tours, Private Tours, Self-Guided Tours, and a Virtual Tour. The program takes place at a site that is home to some of the most important telescopes in the development of modern astronomy, including the two largest telescopes of their time, where students learn, at any level, about the astrophysics that led Hubble to discover the expanding Universe, and where a “Telephone Museum” is located in a cutout in the cement pier that supports the 100-inch telescope.

• Ages: 9–18 years old

Education programs are led by astronomers from world-renowned institutes. The mission of the Mount Wilson Institute is to manage and promote the Mount Wilson Observatory for scientific research, historic preservation, education, public engagement, and the arts. Mount Wilson Observatory was conceived and founded by George Ellery Hale in 1904 and serves as a historic, educational, and cultural landmark where visitors can experience stargazing through its legendary telescopes. All proceeds from programs and ticketed events support the Mount Wilson Institute’s mission to preserve, protect, and promote the Observatory, including its history, telescopes, and legacy. The organization’s leadership includes Samuel D. Hale (Chief Executive Officer & Board Chairman), Katie Steinke (Executive Director, Development and Outreach), Dan Kohne (Chief Operating Officer), Tom Meneghini (Director of Telescope Operations & Executive Director Emeritus), Timothy Thompson (Science Director), John C. Thompson (Director of Technical Services), Laura Laun (Director of Finance & Administration), and Sarah Emery Bunn (Director of Communications).

Last updated March 14, 2026.