Los Angeles|Local Event
MWO Presents Matinees on the Mountain, screening of 1925’s “Our Heavenly Bodies” w/ Live Score
Event Details
Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO), Southern California’s esteemed home to several of the most groundbreaking astronomical discoveries in history, presents its second Matinees on the Mountain screening of the 2026 season, on Saturday, June 13 at 3:00pm.
June’s Matinees on the Mountain will feature a screening of “Our Heavenly Bodies.” Over a century ago, German director Hanns Walter Kornblum set out to create a film that would illuminate the history of man’s pursuit of knowledge of our universe, and speculate about the discoveries future scientists might one day uncover. Released in 1925, “Our Heavenly Bodies” is part scientific documentary, part science fiction, and a technical marvel of the silent film era, that revels in the beauty and mysteries of the universe.
To accompany the film, musicians Linnea Sablosky and Michael Sachs will create a celestial live score that incorporates voice, woodwinds, synth, and the Observatory’s own two-rank organ. This screening is presented in collaboration with The Livonian Cinema (https://livoniancinema.org), a traveling movie theater that creates site specific events in collaboration with artists and communities throughout Southern California. Tickets are priced at $20 for general admission and $15 for children under 12. For more information and tickets, please visit: www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie061326.
MWO's film series takes place in its 256-seat auditorium, screening classic science fiction, vintage silent films, and even a few family-friendly surprises. Moviegoers can enjoy lunch at the Cosmic Cafe or picnic on the grounds, explore the Observatory’s rich history, and then settle in for a unique cinematic experience 1-mile above the City of Los Angeles.
The Cosmic Cafe (www.mtwilson.edu/cosmic-cafe), located above the main parking lot at the Observatory entrance, is open on weekends in the spring, summer, and fall. In addition to traditional menu items such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks, the Cafe offers wraps, salads, and sweet treats from Little Flower.
UPCOMING MATINEES ON THE MOUNTAIN OF THE 2026 SEASON
July 18: “The Right Stuff” (1983): www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie071826
Written and directed by Philip Kaufman, The Right Stuff is set in the early days of the U.S. space program, where test pilots and the Mercury Seven astronauts push the limits of human endurance and courage in the race to reach space.
August 15: “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) + Bob Baker Marionettes: www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie081526
Steven Spielberg's sci-fi classic sees a lonely boy befriend a stranded alien, together they embark on a magical adventure to help E.T. “phone home” before the grown-ups catch him. The Bob Baker Marionettes will also be visiting MWO, bringing a selection of puppets.
September 12: “Solaris” (1972): https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie091226
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, Solaris sees a psychologist travel to a troubled space station orbiting the planet Solaris, where a mysterious alien intelligence manifests human memories and forces the crew to confront their past.
October 10: “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1956): www.mtwilson.edu/events/movie101026
A small-town doctor discovers that people in his community are being secretly replaced by emotionless alien duplicates grown from mysterious space-borne pods, sparking a desperate fight to stop the silent invasion.
VISITING MWO
The gate to Mount Wilson’s campus opens at 10:00am daily and closes at 5:00pm from early April through November. Entrance to the grounds is free. Visitors can hike, gaze at the telescope domes and towers that dot the landscape, and take a look at historic Mount Wilson photos and letters in the Museum. For more information about Visiting Mount Wilson Observatory, please visit: www.mtwilson.edu/visiting.