Editing Palomar Observatory (section)

==Visiting and public engagement==
[[File:Greenway Visitor Center.jpg|thumb|Greenway Visitor Center at Palomar Observatory, with a [[gift shop]]]]
Palomar Observatory is an active research facility. However, selected observatory areas are open to the public during the day. Visitors can take self-guided tours of the 200-inch telescope daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The observatory is open 7 days a week, year round, except for December 24 and 25 and during times of inclement weather. Guided tours of the 200-inch Hale Telescope dome and observing area are available Saturdays and Sundays from April through October. Behind-the-scenes tours for the public are offered through the community support group, Palomar Observatory Docents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Docents |url=https://sites.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/community/docents.html |website=sites.astro.caltech.edu}}</ref>

Palomar Observatory also has an on-site museum—the Greenway Visitor Center,<ref name=":1" /> containing observatory and astronomy-relevant exhibits, a gift shop,<ref>{{cite web |title=Palomar Observatory Gift and Book Store |url=https://store.palomar.caltech.edu/ |website=store.palomar.caltech.edu}}</ref> and hosts periodic public events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenway Talk Series |url=https://sites.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/visitor/visitorcenter/talks/ |website=sites.astro.caltech.edu}}</ref>

For those unable to travel to the observatory, Palomar provides an extensive [[virtual tour]] that provides virtual access to all the major research telescopes on-site and the Greenway Center and has extensive embedded multimedia to provide additional context.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virtual Tour |url=https://sites.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/visitor/virtualtour.html |website=sites.astro.caltech.edu}}</ref>  Similarly the observatory actively maintains an extensive website<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Palomar Observatory |url=https://sites.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/homepage.html |website=sites.astro.caltech.edu}}</ref> and [[YouTube]] channel<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9YssB4C-EIWZ6yXH_uuytw|title = Palomar Observatory – YouTube|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref> to support public engagement.

The observatory is located off [[California State Route 76|State Route 76]] in northern [[San Diego County, California]], two hours' drive from downtown [[San Diego]] and three hours' drive from central [[Los Angeles]] ([[UCLA]], [[LAX]] airport).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Driving Directions to Palomar Observatory |url=https://sites.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/visitor/driving.html |website=sites.astro.caltech.edu}}</ref> Those staying at the nearby Palomar Campground can visit Palomar Observatory by hiking {{convert|2.2|mi|km}} up Observatory Trail.<ref>{{cite web | title=Observatory Trail in Cleveland National Forest | url=https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/observatory-trail-palomar-mountain/ | website=hikespeak.com | publisher=Hikespeak | access-date=March 28, 2017}}</ref>  Notably, [[Ben Burtt|Ben Burt]], sound designer for the original Star Wars, recorded various sounds at the Palomar Observatory, including motors and the shutters on the dome, to add background sounds for the [[Death Star]].