Griffith Park Observatory

If you want to see stars in LA, head to the Griffith Park Observatory for nightly viewings of the biggest stars in the sky from sunset to 10 pm – on clear nights, that is. The lines are long and the look is short but the view of celestial bodies from the observatory’s original 12-inch Zeiss refracting telescope are stunning.

Located on the roof-top dome on the building's east end, it is safe to say that more people have looked though this lens than any other telescope in the world.  The telescope has been in operation since the observatory opened in 1935. It’s in excellent condition and remained unchanged during the recent three-year, $93 million renovation and expansion project completed in 2006. 

The renovation, which included a state-of-the-art immersive planetarium environment with a new dome, star projector, digital laser projectors, a super sound system, and lighting, all culminating in the opening of the 300-seat Samuel Oschin Planetarium, is considered one of the finest planetariums in the world. The projector uses fiber-optics technology to deliver the most accurate dome of star geography available anywhere. The computerized system creates a night sky filled with thousands of stars and can be oriented to show what the sky looked like at any moment in human history with remarkable accuracy.

Two shows are featured, running every 60 to 90 minutes from 12:45 pm (10:45 am weekends) to 8:45 pm: “Centered in the Universe” looks at cosmic exploration and discovery. “Water Is Life” leads looks for water - and possibly life - beyond this planet. A third show in honor of the observatory’s 75th birthday happens Tuesday to Sunday at 5:15 pm and 7:45 pm. “Light of the Valkyries” is a voyage of Viking cosmology that examines the true nature of the Aurora Borealis, or northern lights. 

Show tickets run $3 to $7 and can only be purchased on site. Checking out Jupiter through the Zeiss, scanning the more than 60 exhibits around the Art Deco-style building and wandering around the historic grounds that stood as the famous backdrop for Rebel Without a Cause: free. 

HelloLosAngeles Tip: The Observatory sits atop 1,704-foot Mount Lee. It’s an easy and enjoyable hike to the Hollywood sign from here – about five miles roundtrip along paved road and well-trod paths.

- by Lark Ellen Gould, Los Angeles Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Lark Ellen Gould

Lark Ellen Gould has penned seven books on Las Vegas and Los Angeles as a veteran news and travel writer. Her work appears in the L.A. Times, Elite Traveler, Travel Agent Magazine and other national forums. She lived in Boston for many years, earning her masters degree and then traveling the globe for stories. Today she lives in LA and still travels the world on assignment while filling the pages of her travel site: www.wheredaily.com, along the way.