Calendar and Events
Special Events
| AT THE OBSERVATORY... | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| November 12 |
Veterans Day holiday | Building Closed |
|
| November 17 2:00 – 9:45 p.m. |
Public Star Party | Free Admission |
|
| November 21 4:35 – 5:35 p.m. |
Sunset Walk & Talk | Free Admission |
|
| November 22 |
Thanksgiving Day | Building Closed |
|
| December 7 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. |
All Space Considered | Free Admission |
|
| December 15 2:00 – 9:45 p.m. |
Public Star Party | Free Admission |
|
| December 19 4:35 – 5:35 p.m. |
Sunset Walk & Talk | Free Admission |
|
| IN THE SKY... | |
|---|---|
| November 4 | Standard time resumes. |
| November 5 | Crescent moon near Venus at dawn. |
| November 8 & 9 | Crescent moon near Mercury after sunset. |
| November 11 | Moon near Saturn. |
| November 15 | Moon near Mars. |
| November 17 | Leonid meteor shower, before dawn. |
| 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... | |
|---|---|
| November 19 | Launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, carrying the SSO-A mission to put numerous small satellites from 16 countries into polar orbit. Both the launch and the landing maneuvers of the rocket’s reusable first stage should be visible in the sky to the west of Los Angeles. Time: 10:32 a.m., PST |
| November 26 | NASA’s InSight Mars lander is due to touch down on Elysium Planitia to begin two years of seismic studies of Mars. Time: Approximately 12:00 noon, PST |
| November 29 | A ULA Delta 4-Heavy booster carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload may be visible in the sky to the west of Los Angeles as it launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Time: TBD |
| December 3 | Crew members from Russia, Canada, and U.S. NASA astronaut Anne McClaine will launch on a Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan to stay on the International Space Station. Time: TBD |
| December 8 | The Chinese space agency will launch the Chang’e 4 mission on a Long March 3B rocket to attempt the first robotic landing on the far side of the moon. Time: TBD |
| December 30 | The launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, carrying the Iridium Next 66-75 communication satellites, and the landing maneuvers of the rocket’s reusable first stage should be visible in the sky to the west of Los Angeles. Time: 8:38 a.m., PST |
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
| Veteran's Day (Nov. 11) | OPEN |
| Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22) | CLOSED |
| Christmas Day (Dec. 25) | CLOSED |
2019 Holiday Schedule
| New Year's Day (Jan. 1) | OPEN |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Jan. 21) | CLOSED |
| Presidents' Day (Feb. 18) | CLOSED |
| Cesar Chavez Day (Mar. 25) | CLOSED |
| Memorial Day (May 27) | CLOSED |
| Independence Day (Jul. 4) | OPEN |
| Labor Day (Sept. 2) | CLOSED |
| Columbus Day (Oct. 14) | CLOSED |
| Veteran's Day (Nov. 11) | CLOSED |
| Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28) | 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.