Calendar and Events
Special Events
| AT THE OBSERVATORY... | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| April 21 2:00 – 9:45 p.m. |
Public Star Party | Free Admission |
|
| April 25 7:15 – 8:15 p.m. |
Sunset Walk & Talk | Free Admission |
|
| May 4 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. |
All Space Considered | Free Admission |
|
| May 19 2:00 – 9:45 p.m. |
Public Star Party | Free Admission |
|
| IN THE SKY... | |
|---|---|
| April 2 | Mars close to Saturn at dawn. |
| April 3 | Moon close to Jupiter. |
| April 7 | Moon close to Mars and Saturn. |
| April 17 | Moon close to Venus. |
| April 22 | Before dawn, peak of the Lyrid meteor shower. |
| April 30 | Moon close to Jupiter. |
| 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. |
| 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... | |
|---|---|
| March 30 | A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch Iridium Next communication satellites 41-50 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The launch and reentry firing of the rocket’s reusable first stage may be visible in the sky to the west of Los Angeles. Time: 7:13 a.m., PDT. |
| April 16 | A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Telescope (TESS) from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Time: 3:32 p.m., PDT |
| May 4 | NASA’s Mars InSight lander to launch on a ULA Atlas 5 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, to the west of Los Angeles. This is the first interplanetary launch from the west coast. Time: 4:30 a.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.