Museum Outing - Griffith Observatory - February 21st at Noon

Join A/PGF for an afternoon of discovery on Sunday, February 21, as we visit the new and improved Griffith Observatory!

After nearly 67 years of heavy public use, Griffith Observatory closed its doors in 2002 for its first comprehensive renovation and expansion. This ambitious $93-million project renewed the Observatory's world-class standing and restored and enhanced the Observatory's ability to pursue its public astronomy mission.  Some of its notable attractions include:

·       With a new dome, star projector, digital laser projectors, seats, sound system, and lighting, the 300-seat Samuel Oschin Planetarium is the finest planetarium in the world.  The planetarium features the most sophisticated star projector in the world, the Zeiss Universarium Mark IX.  Two shows are offered, scheduled every 60 to 90 minutes each day the Observatory is open.  Centered in the Universe asks fundamental questions about our place in the Universe.  Who are we?  Where did we come from?  Why is the world the way it is?  Stunning full-dome video transports us back in time, from the Library of Alexandria, to Galileo’s courtyard, to the world’s most powerful telescopes in a quest for answers among the stars.  Water Is Life takes us on a journey through the solar system in search of water.  On Earth, water is the key to life.  If we find water on other worlds in the solar system, could we find life there, too?  Blast off to Mars, crash through the ice of Jupiter’s moon Europa, and travel alongside a comet in a search for habitable worlds beyond Earth.  Show tickets may be purchased ONLY at the Observatory, only for that day's shows, and cost $7.00 for adults (ages 13 and over) and $5.00 for seniors (ages 60 and over) and students.

·       The Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon is a new 200-seat multi-media theater that significantly broadens Griffith Observatory's programming and educational capabilities.  Located in the new Gunther Depths of Space exhibit gallery, the theater realizes an unfulfilled intention of the Observatory's original architects to have a second theater to complement the planetarium. The inaugural program in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon is The Once and Future Griffith Observatory.  This 24-minute film provides an exciting and compelling introduction to the history and unique public offerings of the Observatory. Entertainingly narrated by (who else?) Leonard Nimoy, this show reveals how the vision of one man led to the creation of an architectural, cultural, and astronomical icon for southern California. The film offers an overview of the Observatory's programs and exhibits and discusses how the building was renewed during the 2002-2006 renovation and expansion project. The film is shown every day the Observatory is open, every hour on the hour.  This event is free and is provided on a walk-in, first come, first served basis.

·      Griffith Observatory's major exhibit areas each focus on a unique aspect of observation.  By exploring fundamental questions – what do we observe, how do we observe it, and why it is important? – the exhibits prompt visitors to ponder their own relationship with the universe.  The major exhibit areas are:  the Hall of the Eye, the Hall of the Sky, the Central Rotunda, the Cosmic Connection, the Depths of Space, the Edge of Space, and the Exterior Exhibits.

Admission to the Griffith Observatory, but not the Planetarium (see above), is free.  Visitors may drive directly to Griffith Observatory and park in its parking lot for free (reservations are NOT necessary) or on the adjacent roads (see map).  However, parking at the Observatory remains very limited; there was simply no unused room on the hilltop and roads to add additional parking spaces.  Therefore, you are strongly urged, if possible, to carpool and/or use public transit to get to the Observatory.  The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) operates weekend public bus service between the Vermont/Sunset Metro Red Line station and the Observatory (see http://www.ladottransit.com/other/observatoryshuttle/observatoryshuttle.html#fares).

If you haven’t been to the Observatory since its reopening on November 3, 2006 (and even if you have), you’ll want to be sure to come along with us as we explore the universe!  We will meet inside the Observatory at the “Café at the End of the Universe” (see http://www.griffithobservatory.org/vmap.html) at 12:00 pm (noon) for lunch, if you wish, and we will leave the Café to explore the Observatory no later than 1:00 pm.  The menu for the Café is at http://www.griffithobservatory.org/pdf/cafemenu.pdf.

As always, please RSVP so the event coordinator knows when everyone is present.  Click here to RSVP or send an email to  bruce@apgf.org.