Calendar and Events
Special Events
| AT THE OBSERVATORY... | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. |
All Space Considered | Free admission |
|
| September 6 | School reservations start | Reservation required |
|
| September 22 | Fall equinox activities | Free admission |
|
| September 25 | Alan Lightman & Pope Brock in Conversation with Sandra Tsing Loh: On Science in Literature |
Reservation required | |
| September 27 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. |
Sunset Walk-and-Talk | Free admission | |
| September 30 | Public Star Party | Free admission | |
| October 4 6:10 – 7:10 p.m. |
Sunset Walk-and-Talk | Free admission | |
| October 6 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. |
All Space Considered | Free admission |
|
| October 21 | Public Star Party | Free admission | |
| October 23 | The New Jupiter: Early Results From Mission Juno | Reservation required | |
| IN THE SKY... | |
|---|---|
| September 7 | Mercury becomes visible at dawn. |
| September 10 | Mercury less than one degree from the bright star Regulus at dawn. |
| September 12 | Moon occults (blocks) the bright star Aldebaran at 4:34 a.m. |
| September 16 | Mercury appears 1/5 degree from Mars at dawn. |
| September 18 | Moon appears near Mercury, Venus, and Mars at dawn. |
| September 19 and 20 | Venus near the bright star Regulus at dawn. |
| September 22 | Autumn starts at 1:02 p.m., PDT |
| October 5 | Venus near Mars in the morning sky. |
| October 15 | bright star Aldebaran uncovered by the moon (emerges from occultation) at 3:11 a.m.. |
| Octovber 16 | Saturn’s ring plane at greatest tilt with respect to earth for the next 15 years. |
| October 17 | Moon near Venus and Mars in the morning sky |
| October 19 | Uranus in opposition (visible all night with optical aid). |
| October 21 | Orionid meteor shower peaks before sunrise. |
| October 23 and 24 | Moon near Saturn in the evening sky |
| More sky information can be found at | |
| Griffith Observatory's Weekly Sky Report | |
| All times are local Pacific Daylight Time through November 4. On November 5 and thereafter all times are local Pacific Standard Time. | |
| EXPLORING SPACE... | |
|---|---|
| September 14 | Launch of classified National Reconnaissance Office payload NROL-42 on board a ULA Atlas V rocket, from Vandenberg AFB, California. The ascent of the rocket may be visible in the western sky from Los Angeles. Time : TBA |
| September 15 | End of NASA Cassini Mission at Saturn |
| October 4 | PDT Launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg AFB carrying 10 Iridium Next communication satellites. The rocket’s ascent may be visible in the western sky from Los Angeles. Time : 6:06 a.m. PDT |
| October 17 | Launch of an Orbital ATK Minotaur-C rocket from Vandenberg AFB carrying six Earth observation satellites and several cubesats. The rocket’s ascent may be visible in the western sky from Los Angeles. Time: 2:37 p.m. PDT |
Regular Programs
Griffith Observatory presents daily programs in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium and Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theater.
The Observatory also hosts periodic special events and monthly public star parties.
Hearing assist devices are available upon request in both the Samuel Oschin Planetarium and the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon.
2017 Holiday Schedule
| New Year's Day (Jan. 1) | OPEN |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Jan. 16) | CLOSED |
| Presidents' Day (Feb. 20) | CLOSED |
| Cesar Chavez Day (Mar. 27) | CLOSED |
| Memorial Day (May 29) | CLOSED |
| Independence Day (Jul. 4) | OPEN |
| Labor Day (Sept. 4) | CLOSED |
| Columbus Day (Oct. 9) | CLOSED |
| Veteran's Day (Nov. 11) | OPEN |
| Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23) | CLOSED |
| Christmas Day (Dec. 25) | CLOSED |
Note: Phone operators are not available on closed holidays.
Free public telescopes...
are available each evening the Observatory is open and skies are clear. Knowledgeable telescope demonstrators are available to guide visitors in observing. Please be aware that the demonstrators must cut off the line for each telescope by 9:30 p.m. or earlier to enable all viewing to be completed by 9:45 p.m. Hours for telescope operation are not the same as for the building (which closes at 10:00 p.m.).
Phone Contacts
General Information Line: 213-473-0800
L.A. City's "311" Information Line: 866-4LACITY
Those wishing to attend programs at Griffith Observatory may reach the Observatory by bus, bike, car, or on foot. For more information see our Getting Here page.
Please be advised that parking is limited and not guaranteed. Demand for parking is highest on weekends, holidays, and Greek Theatre show nights.