As you may have heard (the Times announced), due to the temporary closure of all National Forests in California (taking effect from at 11:59pm tonight September 1 – 17), the Observatory (which is located in Angeles National Forest) is not exempt and must cancel the concerts this Sunday.

On September 5, 2021, Mount Wilson Observatory will host its final Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome of the 2021 season. The sublime Lounge Art Ensemble returns to perform under the magnificent vaulted dome of the 100-inch telescope. Led by Weather Report drummer extraordinaire Peter Erskine, this jazz trio features saxophonist Bob Sheppard and bassist Darek Oles with another ‘carte blanche’ program of jazz standards. See ticket info below.

Past Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome (2018). Photo credit: Irina Logra.

There are two performances –  3:00pm and 5:00pm; Seating inside the historic dome is limited. Tickets cost $50 each and are available for purchase in advance (highly recommended) or at the door, given availability. Concert attendees must be fully vaccinated. Children under age 12 are not permitted. Access to the dome performances is via a 53-step staircase. Mount Wilson Observatory sits at a mile-high elevation so the air is noticeably thinner. There is no ADA-compliant access. For more information on Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome, please visit https://www.mtwilson.edu/concerts

All proceeds go to support the Mount Wilson Institute in its mission to preserve, protect and promote the Observatory and the accomplishments there. Poised for rediscovery, the grounds of the legendary observatory—founded in 1904 by astrophysical pioneer George Ellery Hale—are open for free to the public year-round. For visitor information please see https://www.mtwilson.edu/visiting.