Calendar and Events
Griffith Observatory is CLOSED until further notice
Special Events
| AT THE OBSERVATORY... | ||
|---|---|---|
| All public events in 2020 are cancelled to help fight the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. | ||
| IN THE SKY... | |
|---|---|
| November 1 | Standard Time Starts |
| November 10 | Mercury visible before sunrise |
| November 12 | moon near Venus at dawn |
| November 12 | Jupiter and Pluto less than one degree apart after sunset |
| November 17 | Leonid meteor shower, midnight-dawn |
| November 19 | moon near Jupiter and Saturn after sunset |
| November 25 | moon near Mars after sunset |
| November 29/30 | penumbral lunar eclipse (maximum at 1:42 a.m., PST) |
| December 12 | moon near Venus at dawn |
| December 12 | moon occults (covers) Venus from 1:20 p.m. to 2:29p.m., PST |
| December 13/14 | Geminid meteor shower, evening-dawn |
| December 17 | moon near Jupiter and Saturn after sunset |
| December 21 | Winter begins at 2:02 a.m., PST. |
| December 21 | Jupiter and Saturn appear extremely close together after sunset. |
| December 23 | moon near Mars after sunset. |
| 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... | |
|---|---|
December 2 9:50 a.m., PST. |
launch from Cape Canaveral Florida of the first SpaceX Dragon 2 un-crewed cargo mission to the International Space Station. |
December 4 (time to be announced). |
launch of an United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket with a classified spy satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Launch may be visible from southern California. |
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) | |
| 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.