Calendar and Events
Griffith Observatory is CLOSED until further notice
Special Events
| AT THE OBSERVATORY... | ||
|---|---|---|
| July 3 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. |
All Space Considered | CANCELED |
| IN THE SKY... | |
|---|---|
| July 4 | Earth farthest from the sun (aphelion) at 4:34 a.m. |
| July 4 | Full moon passes through outer shadow of Earth (the penumbra) between 8:04 and 9:30 p.m., but may be too subtle to be noticeable. |
| July 5 | Moon near Jupiter and Saturn |
| July 5 | Moon near Saturn |
| July 11 | Moon near Mars before dawn |
| July 12 | Venus near the bright star Aldebaran at dawn |
| July 12 | Mercury visible before sunrise through end of the month |
| July 13 | Jupiter at opposition, visible all night |
| July 14 | Dwarf planet Pluto at opposition |
| July 16 - 17 | Moon near Venus in morning sky |
| July 18 | Moon near Mercury in morning sky |
| July 20 | Saturn at opposition, visible all night |
| July 30 | South Delta Aquariid meteor shower before dawn |
| August 1 | Moon near Jupiter and Saturn most of the night |
| August 8-9 | Moon near Mars in morning sky |
| August 11/12 | Perseid meteor shower 11 p.m.-dawn. |
| August 15 | Crescent moon near Venus at dawn |
| August 28 | Moon near Jupiter and Saturn most of the night |
| More sky information can be found at | |
| Griffith Observatory's Weekly Sky Report | |
| All times are local Pacific Standard Time through March 09, 2019. On March 10 and thereafter all times are local Pacific Daylight Time. | |
| EXPLORING SPACE... | |
|---|---|
July 14 1:57 p.m. PDT |
United Arab Emirates Mars orbiter Hope to launch from Japan on a H2A rocket. |
July 22 6:35 a.m. PDT |
ULA Atlas 5 rocket to launch the NASA Mars 2020 rover, Perseverance. |
July 23 TBD |
A Long March 5b rocket is to launch China’s Tianwen-1 Mars mission consisting of an orbiter, lander, and rover. |
August 30 TBD |
Launch of SpaceX Dragon Crew 1 mission on a Falcon 9 rocket, the first fully operational NASA mission to the International Space Station, and the second to carry a crew there. |
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.
2020 Holiday Schedule
| New Year's Day (Jan. 1) | OPEN |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Jan. 20) | CLOSED |
| Presidents' Day (Feb. 17) | CLOSED |
| Cesar Chavez Day (Mar. 30) | CLOSED |
| Memorial Day (May 25) | CLOSED |
| Independence Day (Jul. 4) | |
| Labor Day (Sept. 7) | CLOSED |
| Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Oct. 12) | CLOSED |
| Veteran's Day (Nov. 11) | OPEN |
| Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) | 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.