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Top 10 Facts about the Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory is based in Los Angeles, California facing Mount Hollywood in the south. It was opened in 1935 as the first institution in the United States dedicated to science.

While at the Observatory, one can see a vista of the Los Angeles Basin: Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest.

Photo by Plane777 – Wikimedia

This is a popular landmark that attracts tourists who also get to see the Hollywood sign. They also get to interact with different space and science equipment, even viewed through the telescope.

Entry to the Griffith Observatory is free to members of the public. More than 7 million people. Since its opening, more than 85 million people have visited the Griffith Observatory.

Get to explore the sky on clear nights through the Observatory’s Zeiss 12-inch refracting telescope. There is so much more to learn about the observatory.

Here are the top 10 facts about the Griffith Observatory.

1. The Griffith Observatory was open to the public in 1935

The Griffith Observatory was opened to the public on May 14, 1935. This observatory had the country’s third planetarium.

More than 13,000 visitors went to the observatory during the first five days. As of today, 81 million people have visited the observatory.

This observatory is popularly known as the leader when it comes to astronomy. There are several things to do here like relaxing at its grounds, looking at the exhibits ad also looking through the telescope.

You can catch some special events held here such as star parties.

2. The Griffith Observatory’s Zeiss Mark II was used for 29 years

Photo by Serouj – Wikimedia

The Observatory’s Zeiss Mark II planetarium projector was used for the Observatory’s first 29 years before a new one was brought. It was replaced by the Zeiss Mark IV in 1964.

This new projector was twice the size of the old one and was used for 37 years.

Back when it was still in use, the staff at the observatory used modified streetlight bulbs in the Zeiss Mark IV projector. Production of the bulbs for the projector had been stopped.

Today, the two projectors are part of the items that are on display at a museum in Baton Rouge.

3. The land where Griffith Observatory is was donated

The story of this Observatory began when Colonel Griffith J. Griffith donated 3,015 acres of land. The land was surrounding the observatory to the City of Los Angeles.

In his will, Griffith had funds set aside to build an observatory, exhibit hall, and planetarium on the provided land.

He wanted to make astronomy accessible to the public.

4. The best astronomers and scientists were selected to work on the plan for the Griffith Observatory

Photo by Matthew Field – Wikimedia

When all was set and running, the observatory management selected the leading astronomers and scientists as part of its team.

One of them was George Ellery Hale, who oversaw the creation of telescopes at Yerkes, Mount Wilson, and Palomar Observatories.

The other one was Edward Kurth, a Caltech physicist who designed the preliminary plans as well as the construction of the building.

Architects John Austin and Frederick Ashley oversaw the final plans for the new observatory building.

5. Major renovation on the Griffith Observatory was done in 2002

There were major renovations at the observatory in 2002. It was closed to the public and about $93 million was used in the renovations.

Part of the renovation work was to expand the exhibit space.

After 4 years, the observatory was opened to the public. It had a new state of the Art Deco a sharp contrast to the old planetarium.

Today, the observatory has more room in the underground which features new exhibits, a café, a gift shop, and the new Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theatre.

6. Each of the exhibit areas in the Griffith Observatory is themed

Photo by Sgerbic – Wikimedia

The major exhibit areas in the observatory focus on unique aspects. There are six sections: Wilder Hall of the Eye, Ahmanson Hall of the Sky, W.M. Keck Foundation Central Rotunda, Cosmic Connection, Gunther Depths of Space, Edge of Space Mezzanine, and Exterior Exhibits.

In the Wilder Hall of the Eye, you will find astronomical tools like telescopes. These telescopes have been arranged in the order of their manufacture dates.

You will also get to see the Tesla coil and a Camera Obscura. These two items use mirrors and lenses to focus light onto a flat surface.

In the Ahmanson Hall of the Sky, which is located in the west wing, you will see objects generally found in the sky, like the Sun and Moon.

Its main centre of attraction is a large solar telescope projecting images of the Sun, using a chain of mirrors called coelostats.

7. About 600 visitors get to enjoy using the Zeiss refracting telescope every night at the Griffith Observatory

Photo by Plane777 – Wikimedia

Since its official opening in 1935, millions of visitors explored the sky through the 12-inch Zeiss refracting telescope.

This telescope is found in the rooftop dome on the building’s east end. It is usually used at night by visitors.

They get to see the Moon, planets, and the brightest objects in the Milky Way. About 600 visitors get to use it each night.

The telescope is operated by a demonstrator from the observatory. They choose the object to be observed and then explain it as well as answer questions.

8. Hall of the eye is one of the best to visit at Griffith Observatory

Photo by Eli Duke – Wikimedia

The Hall of the Eye is located on the observatory’s main level.

This section of the observatory demonstrates the nature and progress of human surveillance of the sky. Additionally, it has the tools used for that exploration.

Its main highlight is a Tesla coil. This was built in 1910 by Earle Ovington and was donated to the Griffith Observatory a year after his death in 1936.

The machine was refurbished with the help of Kenneth Strickfaden. Kenneth had designed electrical special effects for Frankenstein and The Wizard of Oz movies.

This Tesla Coil was invented by Nikola Tesla, whom it is named after. s

9. There is a gigantic concrete sculpture at the Griffith Observatory

The Astronomer’s Monument is a large outdoor concrete sculpture on the front lawn of the Observatory. This sculpture pays homage to six of the greatest astronomers of all time.

They are Hipparchus (150 BC), Nicholas Copernicus (1473–1543), Galileo Galilei (1564–1642), Johannes Kepler (1571-1630, Isaac Newton (1642–1727) and William Herschel (1738–1822).

The sculpture was commissioned by the Public Works of Art Project. They hired Archibald Garner, a local artist who designed the sculpture.

Together with five other artists, they moulded and cast the concrete monument and figures. Each of the five artists was tasked with sculpting one astronomer.

George Stanley was one of the artists. He is credited for making the famous “Oscar” statuette presented at the Academy Awards.

10. The Big Picture is another highlight of the Griffith Observatory

Photo by Sgerbic – Wikimedia

The Big Picture is another highlight in the observatory. It is located in the Gunther Depths of Space exhibit hall on the lower level.

The Big Picture is the largest astronomically accurate image ever constructed. It measures 152 feet long by 20 feet high.

This highly detailed image illustrates the core of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies.

Inside it is almost a million faint galaxies, half a million stars in the Milky Way, a thousand distant quasars, and at least one comet.

One is allowed to explore The Big Picture from within arm’s reach or through telescopes that are 60 feet away.

A 48-inch Samuel Oschin telescope at Palomar Mountain was used to take this image for 11 nights.