Entry No. 52 — the Los Angeles file — filed under: after-dark
Griffith Observatory Public Star Party
On the Saturday nearest the first-quarter moon, volunteer astronomers from the L.A. Astronomical Society, the Sidewalk Astronomers, and The Planetary Society haul dozens of telescopes onto the Observatory lawn and let anyone walk up and look. You can squint at the Moon's craters, Saturn's rings, and double stars through a parade of different scopes while the owners talk shop. It runs free until the lines are cut off around 9:45 p.m. so all viewing finishes on time, with the glittering city sprawl below as backdrop.
The story
Once a month, when the Moon hits its first quarter, a legion of optics obsessives quietly annexes the front lawn of the Griffith Observatory. These aren't municipal employees working a shift; they're volunteers from the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers, and The Planetary Society who haul serious hardware up the mountain in their trunks just to let strangers look at the sky.
The setups scattered across the grass range from sleek, computerized tracking rigs to massive, handmade Dobsonian light-buckets resting on wooden mounts. While casual visitors queue inside for the historic Zeiss glass, the lawn becomes an open-air trade show for gearheads. Each volunteer zeroes in on a specific target—Saturn’s rings, double stars, or the shadow-drenched craters along the Moon's terminator line—and stands beside their rig happy to talk shop as long as you're listening.
What it's like
Drive up early if you don't want a long uphill walk from overflow parking. The party officially starts at 2:00 p.m., but the real draw is after dark when the lawn transforms into a sea of red flashlights and scope barrels framed by the glittering city grid below. Hop from line to line, squint through different glass, and ask the owners how they built or calibrated their gear. Just don't drag your feet late in the evening: organizers cut off the back of each queue right around 9:45 p.m. so everyone gets a look before the grounds shut down.
The move: Drive up at dusk, wander the lawn hopping from telescope to telescope to catch Saturn and the Moon, then walk the parapet for the city lights.
📍 Before you go Free, no reservation; held only on select Saturdays near first-quarter moon, roughly 2 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. Check the calendar for the next date and arrive early for parking.
- 📍 Los Feliz / Griffith Park
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Bronson Caves (the Batcave) — Walk through the man-made rock quarry tunnel in Bronson Canyon during daylight before heading up the winding road to the observatory lawn.
- Philosophical Research Society — Pair esoteric cosmic reading at Manly P. Hall's historic Los Feliz campus with direct observation of the solar system.
- Tiki-Ti — Head down the mountain after stargazing for a strong tropical drink inside this tiny 12-seat landmark on Sunset.
Good to know
Is there an admission fee or ticket requirement?
No. The event is totally free and un-ticketed. You simply walk onto the lawn and queue up at whichever telescope catches your eye.
How often does the Star Party take place?
It happens once a month on the Saturday nearest the first-quarter moon, running from roughly 2:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. Always verify the observatory's schedule online before going.
Why is it held around the first-quarter moon?
During the first quarter, the Moon sits high in the sky at sunset, and sunlight hits its surface at a side angle—casting long shadows across crater rims and mountain ridges that look incredible through an eyepiece.
What happens at 9:45 p.m.?
To ensure everyone already waiting gets a turn through the optics before the observatory closes, volunteers cap the end of every line at 9:45 p.m. sharp.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: griffithobservatory.lacity.gov · laas.org · carahotel.com · losfelizliving.com
last checked: 2026-06-23