Exploring Outer Space In Broad Daylight at the Griffith Observatory
Man must rise above the Earth—to the top of the atmosphere and beyond—for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives. – Socrates
The Griffith Observatory is a stronghold of space, a command center of the cosmos. And every night up to 600 people filter through its hallowed halls to peer through the original telescope installed on the roof of the observatory in 1935. Planets, moons, comets, and other celestial bodies have all been objects of attention from this regal collection of tubes, mirrors, and lenses perched atop the classic art-deco structure.
But visitors don’t come just for the telescopes – Griffith is open to visitors morning, noon, and night, creating an immersive space experience, no matter the viewing conditions.
The Griffith Observatory is an entire museum devoted to the study of space science. It is anchored by a swinging pendulum flanked by two individual exhibition halls: the Hall of the Sky, and the Hall of the Eye. The former focuses on space topics such as eclipses and the phases of the moon, while the latter educates visitors on the process of observing and the tools created to assist the human eye in viewing the outer reaches of space.
Ever wondered how much you weigh on Mercury?
The Griffith Observatory’s ‘Planets’ exhibit gives visitors a closer look at each of the planets in our solar system, including a scale demonstrating how much you would weigh on each respective planet’s surface. With a gravitational pull approximately equivalent to 1/3 that of the earth, the Mercury scale provides a refreshing view of a weight many of haven’t seen since our childhood. On the flip side, stepping on the Jupiter scale can be a rather humbling experience.
One of the primary draws of the Griffith Observatory is not within its halls. Instead, it can be found on the outside balconies where the building hangs perilously over the cliffs below. It is from here that one of the best views of the city of Los Angeles is found.
LA is a sprawling megalopolis, from ocean to inland, hills to vallies. With so many drastically diverse environments in the city itself, it’s impossible to put together one image that best represents the city. But for me, the view from Griffith Observatory does it the most justice.
The downtown skyline, the hollywood sign, and the ocean can all be seen from this vantage point, with a delicate layer of smog draped overtop of each. The view from high above helps to make some sense of the vast urban network that is Los Angeles. While the view is spectacular anytime of day, sunset is a favorite time for many to visit.
Similar posts:
- Exploring The Ruins of The Old Los Angeles Zoo
- Visiting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Local’s Take With Kae Lani of ‘A Travel Broad’
- Malibu, California – Escape from Los Angeles
- Stepping Off the Boardwalk in Venice Beach, California
18 Responses to Exploring Outer Space In Broad Daylight at the Griffith Observatory
Leave a reply
Fields marked with * are required
i’ve always loved astronomy although found it difficult to study in college. super views of LA from the observatory. AND, as always, incredible photographs, John!
lola recently posted..lola – the ambassador of America
Thanks Lola. This place is a mecca for astronomy – really cool to see first hand. I wish there were more places like it.
Cool that these places still exist…sadly I think astronomy is lost on today’s generation…
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..Rees Jones – Interview with an Architect
You’re probably right Deej. As cities become brighter and the stars fade away, less will be inclined to learn about what’s beyond the earth’s atmosphere.
Loved the quote at the beginning. Its great that the observatory is open morning, noon, and night. The view alone if enough to draw me!
Tawny- Captain and Clark recently posted..Getting a taste of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Thanks Tawny. The view is incredible, isn’t it?
great shots you got.. the view from up there is really nice.. haven’t been there, gotta experience that someday..
rdsean recently posted..Bangkok: The City of Angels
Thank you. It’s spectacular indeed.
Are you freaking kidding me with these pictures, especially the last one of the Hollywood sign? Brilliant! I wanted to be an astronomer when I was little. Then I realized that science wasn’t my strong suit. I’ve heard great things about the Griffith Observatory, and you’ve confirmed them. I’m adding this to my LA itinerary (if I ever go back).
Leah Travels recently posted..A Brush with Fame: BBC & My Cruise Contempt
Beautiful pictures and a great place. It may not be as high on one’s LA itinerary, but it would be worth it to climb up there.
Pola (@jettingaround) recently posted..Photo of the Week: Zócalo in Puebla, Mexico
that picture of the hollywood sign is aaaamazing. totally visiting whenever we get to LA.
the lazy travelers recently posted..no travel required: #frifotos
“A delicate layer of fog” makes me think of a restaurant reviewer – LOL! John, you always find these gems that maybe are not well known or that we forget about. Your blog really will be one of my reference guides as I travel around this US of A!
Raul (ilivetotravel in Twitter) recently posted..A Fourth of July Celebration at the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta
What a great perk to have such beautiful views from the observatory on top of all the space stuff. Looks like a very cool place.
The view might just be my favorite part.
I tend to think the view of the stars in the sky are better than the (hollywood) stars in LA. I’d love to head out there at twilight and stay till dark to see the heavens above…… stay adventurous, Craig
Craig Zabransky recently posted..Sunset Sunday – Sunset on the Streets of Quebec City
Pingback: Griffith observitory | Healthhopeandh
Wow, this looks incredible. Really, really wish I’d got there when I was in LA. Maybe next time!
Vicky recently posted..Camping in the Serengeti: the Real Story
Next time! It’s been there for around 70-80 years (i think) so I’m sure it will be there for many more.