Spaced Out

One of the most famous and visited landmarks in Southern California happens to sit on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in LA’s Griffith Park. The unique architecture and setting of Griffith Observatory was the dream of Col. Griffith J. Griffith, a wealthy mining speculator who owned the land on which the observatory was built- once a part of the Spanish settlement called Rancho Los Felis, now known as Los Feliz. Griffith wanted to make astronomy and observation accessible to all so he commissioned scientists in the 1930’s to shape what is now the spectacular cultural and scientific icon.

A national leader in public astronomy, Griffith Observatory offers live planetarium shows, star gazing out towards the coast and the heavens, cafes run by Wolfgang Puck and sunset hikes led by a Park Ranger and Museum Guide. A massive renovation and expansion plan began in 2002 and was completed in 2006, making the observatory a state-of-the-art immersive planetarium environment. These enhancements include a new dome, a star projector, digital laser projectors, a sound system, lighting, and The Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon- a 200-seat multi media theater that will make all Trekkies proud. As they say, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever…well, at least when there isn’t any smog. www.griffithsobs.org