Photos on Friday: Views from the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center's observation tower

The Smithsonian is a well-known institution that has grown to 19 museums. One of its newer additions is the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center which is a part of the National Air & Space Museum. Located about 25 miles west of Washington, D.C. in Chantilly, Virginia, this museum offers some things its counterpart downtown does not.

One of the cool attributes about the Udvar-Hazy Center is its observation tower. Located just south of Dulles International Airport, visitors to the museum can take the elevator up the tower and watch the planes coming in and out of Dulles. Additionally, there is a lower level where visitors can learn all about how airports work and listen to a feed from Newark Liberty International Airport.

The observation tower at the Udvar-Hazy Center. This was taken in July 2012 when Space Shuttle Discovery arrived - a lot of people at the museum for the ceremony. These were the early arrivals before the museum opened.

Looking to the east - in the forefront is a partial view of the museum's parking lot

Looking to the northwest, you can see Dulles Airport, about 4 miles away

It's fun to watch the planes take off and land from the observation tower

 
Newark Feed found on YouTube - this is what visitors can see.