Los Angeles is looking up again. The Griffith Observatory is presenting live planetarium programs inside the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, where presenters guide audiences through the night sky beneath one of the most celebrated domes in the country. The theater is home to a Zeiss Mark IX Universarium star projector, a precision instrument that recreates the stars with remarkable clarity, paired with modern digital projection and a state-of-the-art sound system for a fully immersive trip across the universe.
The Observatory, which first opened to the public in 1935, remains one of the city’s happiest free destinations. Set high in Griffith Park above Los Feliz, it welcomes visitors to explore astronomy exhibits, peer through telescopes on clear evenings and take in sweeping views that stretch from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific. Its mission has always been simple and generous: make astronomy open to everyone.
A planetarium show makes an easy anchor for a full day in the park. Arrive early to wander the exhibit halls, watch the pendulum swing, hike one of the surrounding trails and stay for sunset on the terraces before heading inside for the stars. Whether it is a family outing, a date night or a first visit to the city, the Observatory delivers the kind of wonder that keeps Los Angeles shining.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
