Griffith Observatory hosts a star party on 14 November
Published on 10/24/2026 at 15:00 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSStar party programme and access
- The Los Angeles Astronomical Society joins the public programme on 14 November 2026.
- Griffith Observatory's lawn hosts telescopes for views of the Sun, Moon and visible planets.
- The observatory opened to the public in 1935 and reopened after renovation in 2006.
- Los Angeles provides the setting for the monthly astronomy event.
Griffith Observatory hosts a Public Star Party on 14 November 2026 in Los Angeles, bringing telescopes and astronomy groups to its lawn. The event is part of the observatory's monthly public programme and is open to visitors.
Public Star Party brings telescopes to the lawn
The observatory's official programme lists the Public Star Party for Saturday, 14 November 2026, from 2pm to 9.45pm. The event page names Griffith Observatory as the venue and says the observatory partners with local telescope groups for the evening.
Visitors can use a range of telescopes and speak with amateur astronomers about the sky. The programme covers the Sun, Moon, visible planets and other objects, making the lawn the event's main viewing area rather than a separate indoor exhibition. The official event listing identifies the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers and The Planetary Society as assisting with the monthly star parties.
Admission is free, according to the observatory. Telescope operation ends at 9.45pm so that scheduled viewing can be completed, while the building follows a separate timetable. Private, unauthorised telescopes are not permitted on the grounds.
How the November programme fits the observatory
The astronomy evening uses a setting created for public science. Griffith Observatory opened to the public in 1935 and is owned and operated as a public service by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Its role combines an observatory, planetarium and exhibition space.
The building closed in 2002 for a comprehensive renovation and expansion before reopening to the public in 2006. The project added nearly 40,000 square feet of public space, including an underground exhibition gallery and new entrances and ramps. That history gives the November event a direct link to the site's long-running public astronomy mission: the same complex that presents exhibits and planetarium programmes also places working telescopes outdoors for a public evening. The renovation history records the building's reopening and the expansion of its visitor facilities.
The event is also listed by NASA's Night Sky Network through the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. That listing describes the gathering as a monthly public star party on the front lawn, providing a second confirmation of the date and venue. Its timetable differs slightly from the observatory's official listing, so the official programme remains the reference for the published event period.
Visiting Griffith Observatory: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Public Star Party takes place at Griffith Observatory on 14 November 2026, with the official programme running from 2pm to 9.45pm.
- The event is free and centres on public telescope viewing on the observatory lawn; private unauthorised telescopes cannot be operated on the grounds.
- The venue is at 2800 East Observatory Road in Los Angeles, California, and is operated by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.
- The site includes outdoor viewing areas, exhibition galleries, a planetarium and ramps added during the 2002-2006 renovation, so the programme combines open-air observing with a substantial indoor visitor complex.
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Frequently asked questions about Griffith Observatory
When does the Public Star Party take place at Griffith Observatory?
The event takes place on 14 November 2026, with the official programme scheduled from 2pm to 9.45pm.
What can visitors see at the Griffith Observatory star party?
Visitors can look at the Sun, Moon, visible planets and other objects through telescopes on the lawn, weather and observing conditions permitting.
Where is Griffith Observatory and how do you get there?
Griffith Observatory is at 2800 East Observatory Road in Los Angeles, California. The official programme identifies the observatory as the venue and the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks as its operator.
