Tours will vary depending on the host, the level and interests of the group, weather, time constraints, and the needs of astronomers working at the telescopes. Nevertheless, it is possible to give a general overview that will help prepare you and your group for your visit to Mt. Hamilton.

Tours meet at the Visitors' Center on Mount Hamilton. Please arrive promptly at the scheduled time--a few minutes early is even better. We usually begin with a five-minute walk to our largest telescope, the Shane 3-meter reflector. At the 3-meter, groups learn first hand about the optical and mechanical parts of a large telescope, and about the instruments that are used to detect the light the telescope collects. We discuss some of the projects being carried out on the 3-meter, including both astronomical research and the development of new observing technologies.

A visit to the 3-meter's control room gives your group a view of how observational astronomy is carried out in the modern era of remote controlled instruments, electronic detectors, and computers. Often, the 3-meter astronomer is present and explains his or her research to the group.

This portion of the tour usually runs from one and a half to two hours. At this point we return to the Visitors' Center and take a brief break. We provide coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. (Please note that, apart from two vending machines serving snacks and drinks, food and drink are not available on the mountain. If you plan to bring dinner, please allow extra time.)

Having thus far concentrated on astronomy as it's practiced today, we now turn to the past. The visitor's center is located in the historic "Main Building," dating from the late 19th century. Your group will hear the fascinating story of Lick Observatory's benefactor, James Lick, and of the building of the observatory.

Weather permitting, we then enjoy views through the century-old 36-inch refractor, Lick's first major telescope and still the second largest refracting telescope in the world. We try to include a sampling of astronomical objects such as star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, double stars, and planets. What we actually view will depend on what's available in the sky, the phase of the moon, the number of people in your group, and so on.

The tours usually conclude sometime between 10pm and midnight. The entire tour, from arrival (see Seasonal Start Times) to departure, typically lasts from five to six hours.