Up Close with VERITAS *WALKING* Tour

Guests with paid tour tickets for Up Close with VERITAS ***do not need a separate ticket for the Science Center.***

Get “up close and personal” with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory. 

During this one-hour hard hat tour, you will go beyond safety lines and staff only barriers to better understand the mechanics, engineering and science behind gamma-ray astronomy and the only gamma-ray telescope array located in the northern hemisphere. 

Stand in the shadow of these 12-meter “glass honeycombs in the desert,” mount a platform and look directly into the heart of the mirror***, and check out some surprises from the past and present of the MMT “hidden” in the Observatory’s backyard, like the “cage” from the original MMT, when it still had multiple mirrors, and the bell jar used to recoat the mirror on the current MMT. 

***platform climbs at VERITAS are dependent on weather conditions and the status of work on the telescopes, and are not guaranteed. 

IMPORTANT:

This hour-long walking tour has no seating and no bathroom stops and may be unsuitable for children under 6 years old. This tour requires all guests to wear a leant/provided hard hat or bump cap, and closed-toe shoes, and to attend a safety briefing ahead of the tour. Tours will not be held for late arrivals, and anyone not able to meet these requirements will not receive a refund. 

Every guest on this tour must have their own ticket. Unticketed guests will not be permitted on this tour for safety reasons. There are no exceptions. Tickets must be purchased in advance; there are no tickets for sale at the door. 

Guests are expected to arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to their tour, but may arrive as early as 30 minutes prior. Late arrivals will not be permitted on the tour and will not receive a refund. 

This tour requires guests to be able to walk over uneven ground and possibly up and down 15 stairs on their own, and over the course of an hour. There are no sitting areas or restrooms during this tour. 

Guests with paid tour tickets for Up Close with VERITAS ***do not need a separate ticket for the Science Center.***

NO REFUNDS. Whipple Observatory does not offer refunds on tours unless the tour is cancelled by the Observatory. In extreme circumstances, the Science Center Manager may offer a transfer of your tickets to another open date or to a friend or family member. You may also elect to have your tickets marked as a cash donation and receive a gift receipt for the value of your tickets minus taxes and fees. Thank you for your understanding.

For additional information please visit the Observatory’s web page.