From the Movie “Rebel Without a Cause” to the video game Grand Theft Auto:San Andreas, Griffith Observatory is all over pop culture. It’s our first of 5 hikes we’re doing around Los Angeles. The hiking is terrific and the view from high above Los Angeles is outstanding. Built in 1935 for astronomy before light pollution from the city was too intense, it’s now more of a place to celebrate astronomy then to do serious observing. I love places like this. Give me a science museum any day (like the Rose Center/Hayden Planetarium in NYC, Boston’s Museum of Science, or San Francisco’s California Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park). This hike is highly recommended. Views on the Hollywood Sign and most of Los Angeles are spectacular on a clear day or evening. Bring a camera. After hiking up you can cool down with a drink at their “Cafe at the End of the Universe”.
Trails
Trails
Hazy view from Griffith
Steph and Dawn
Top of the trails, almost there
First view of the observatory
One of several murals above the lobby
Foucault Pendulum demonstrating the rotation of the Earth
Giant Periodic Table with the actual Elements!
Giant Periodic Table with the actual Elements (I'll bet element Pu is not there)
View From the Top
Steph and Mike
The 12 inch refractor telescope
The 12 inch refractor telescope
Inside the observatory
Los Angeles
