Calendar and Events
Special Events
| AT THE OBSERVATORY... | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. |
FOTO Cosmic Musings Panel Discussion: Into the Unknown: the James Webb Space Telescope |
Reservation required | |
| May 23 7:40 – 8:40 p.m. |
Sunset Walk & Talk | Free Admission |
|
| May 28 |
Memorial Day | BUILDING CLOSED |
|
| June 1 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. |
All Space Considered | Free Admission |
|
| June 20 7:55 – 8:55 p.m. |
Sunset Walk & Talk | Free Admission |
|
| June 23 2:00 – 10:45 p.m. |
Public Star Party | Free Admission |
|
| IN THE SKY... | |
|---|---|
| May 1 | Mercury visible in east before sunrise through the 13th. |
| May 1 | Moon near Jupiter. |
| May 4 | Moon near Saturn in morning sky. |
| May 6 | Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks before dawn, possibly spoiled by the bright moonlight. |
| May 7 | Moon near Mars at dawn. |
| May 8 | Jupiter at opposition and visible all night. |
| May 17 | Moon near Venus in the evening sky. |
| May 28 | Moon near Jupiter. |
| June 1 | Moon near Saturn. |
| June 3 | Moon near Mars. |
| June 15 and 16 | Moon near Venus in the evening sky. |
| June 16 | Mercury visible in the evening sky. |
| June 21 | Summer begins at 3:07 a.m.. |
| June 23 | Moon near Jupiter. |
| June 26 | Saturn at opposition (visible all night). |
| June 28 | Moon near Mars and Saturn. |
| 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... | |
|---|---|
| May 20 | The Chinese Chang-e 4 lunar communication relay satellite for the Chang-e 4 lunar far side lander/rover mission (to be sent to the moon later this year) will be launched from China by a Long March 4C rocket. Time: 2:25 p.m, PDT |
| May 22 | A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Iridium 51-55 communications satellites and two GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) follow-on mission satellites. GRACE is a joint project of NASA and Germany. The daylight launch from Vandenberg AFB may be seen with difficulty in the western sky at Los Angeles. Time: 12:47 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.
2018 Holiday Schedule
| New Year's Day (Jan. 1) | CLOSED |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Jan. 15) | CLOSED |
| Presidents' Day (Feb. 19) | CLOSED |
| Cesar Chavez Day (Mar. 26) | CLOSED |
| Memorial Day (May 28) | CLOSED |
| Independence Day (Jul. 4) | OPEN |
| Labor Day (Sept. 3) | CLOSED |
| Columbus Day (Oct. 8) | CLOSED |
| Veteran's Day (Nov. 11) | OPEN |
| Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22) | 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.