Griffith Observatory

Reviews 3

MI

Michael Hidden

After much searching for any kind of review that seemed realistic, I thought the least I could do is write one that paints a typical picture of the Griffith Observatory experience - so here goes: Getting there from anywhere is not an easy feat. We came from Orange County and traffic is always horrendous! There is a shuttle but it does not traverse a route where much, if any, parking is available. You can park at the Greek Theatre for free but if theres an event youre out of luck. Parking at, or close to, the observatory is extremely limited. Parking is $4 per hour, which Im more than willing to pay, but even on a Tuesday morning at 11:30 (the observatory opens at 12:00) hoards of drivers are circling for spots. There are pay spaces on the hills going up and coming down so if youre willing to hike - these might be a good choice for you. But if you pass them up and cant get a spot on top youll have to go all the way back down and try again. Once parked at the top its a short walk to the observatory. Heres a tip: people (and hoards of kids) will be stacked up at the front door waiting to get in. Instead go to the steps that lead down to the cafeteria, theyll let you in at the same time the front doors open and theres very few people so you can wander the displays downstairs without wading through too many people. Theres also a kiosk to buy tickets to the shows so you dont have to wait in a long line upstairs. We bought our show tickets in the cafeteria without waiting in line and enjoyed quietly wandering the displays downstairs, then we went to get in line for the show we selected about 20 minutes before show time. The line for the shows is upstairs - outside, and there were three very large easy ups for shade but these were not enough. We spent quite a bit of time standing in the sun. After some time they announced there was a technical problem so we waited a little longer till hey finally cancelled the show. They offered the later show (to begin an hour and a half later) or a refund at the ticket booth - we chose the latter. One advantage of standing in the sun was we were right at the side for a quick and easy exit allowing us to get to the ticket booth before the line got too long. We gathered our refund and left to have lunch at Roscoes in LA then headed back to OC, (more absolutely horrendous traffic). Needless to say it was not one of the best outings weve experienced. Heres my take away from our observatory experience: Its a pain in the a** to get there and find a parking space. There arent many exhibits and theyre pretty much put together for small kids. (Our 14 year old grandson was not impressed as it felt to him like a grade school outing)... The shows are entertaining and an enjoyable experience - when you actually get to see one. The views of the LA area are spectacular - for about 5 or 10 minutes... Even with the show your visit will probably last only a couple hours max. Final thought: When the observatory reopened in November 2006, after the retrofitting, they made arrangements for shuttles from the zoo parking lot. You could reserve a set window of time to visit on their web site. Both these made the visit very manageable and pleasant. There was a small fee but it was worth every penny! Despite our crappy experience, the Griffith Observatory should be on your must visit list at some point. Entry to the observatory is free, only the shows have a fee. Just plan ahead - maybe plan on including other touristy things to fill the day.

SC

Scott Hochstetter

Greatest man to the knowledge of the stars is absent. Ptolemy explained eclipses , equinoxes , measurements and magnitudes, orbits, and countless other things. Our whole basis of observation of the skys is based on his work. Seems weird he is absent and Not on the statue out front. Statue looks a lot like an obelisk with concrete forming a nice huge cross. Think, solstices and eclipses and take a look at the vaticians courtyard and you will see same set up . The sundial from Apollo thats out front behind statue was destroyed by the 69th empire of Rome who also destroyed ptolomys followers citys and temples And the olympics and those virgins that kept the eternal flame going ( see princess Dianes gravesite and all funny videos of people trying to put out flame at olympics Not much talk of the zodiac. Its up in the ceiling when u come in. Youll notice the zodiac symbols around the circumference of the center and a lot of symbology And a little as a back drop of sun rotating round earth in the displays. But come on. U observe the stars and the constellations and much story and history is provided in them but its absent. Ptolomy mapped out the original constellations and its still with us today. But you wont find anything about that there Nothing about Sirius ( the brightest star In the sky except a ball showing its size relative to sun and Betelgeuse Nothing about Polaris. The star that all the other stars rotate around!!!!! I thought it was an observatory? Are stars not observed? How does the Pendulum prove the earth is rotating? Why so much about the Big Bang. Is that not a theory. Can I observe the Big Bang. No! The live feed of the sun was a circle with three sun spots but it did not rotate like all the other displays around showed. Confused. Does the sun rotate or not. The love view was not and did not look like any of the other displays Is there no video footage of what is being observed from the telescope not observing the sun. Curious why there is none. I observed that I could not observe anything that they see with one scope but could do it with the other scope. Hmmmm. Weird What a beautifull view. What a bunch of propaganda here. I suggest people learn about the ecliptic , how the stars rotate around Polaris and how every ancient civilization knew this. Heliocentric sun worship is not cool. Learn why the geocentric model is legit by simply getting a telescope and observing the stars. What I thought this place was supposed to be. Educate yourself

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이경주

그 후에 간곳은 LA의 야경을 볼수 있는 Griffith observatory. 아마 이렇게 높은 걸 알았으면 아마 안왔을지도~이곳까지 가는 버스가 주말에만 있다는 사실 ㅠ 근처까지 버스를 타고 가서 등산을 해야한다. 올라갈 때는 주택가 길을 따라 올라갔다 산책하러 동네 사람들도 오는 것 같다. 천문대 안에는 여러가지 전시와 플라네타리움에서 하는 우주쇼가 있는데 7불이고 꽤 볼만하다. 3층으로 구성되어 있어 곳곳에 볼게 많다 약간 큰 운석(운석치고)이전시 되어 있는데 요즘 한국에도 운석이 많이 떨어졌다던데~ 할리우드 간판은 요기서 봐야 가깝다. 해가 떨어지기를 기다려 LA야경을 봣는데 엄청 큰 도시가 격자 모양으로 잘 정돈 되어있다. 높은 곳인만큼 야경은 최고인듯 이제는 내려올 일만 남았는데 이게 큰 난관이더라 ㅠ 실은 셔틀 버스라도 있을 줄 알았는데 전혀 없다 진짜 걸어내려와야한다. 올라온 길은 주택가라 길도 좁고해서 다른 길을 찾았는데 차가 다니는 도로를 선택. 이게 잘한건지 모르겠지만 일단 걸어내려가기 시작 그런데 조명이 하나도 없다 내려오는 차 불빛이 간간히 있지만 진짜 간간히ㅠ 아무도 없는 도로는 적막하다. 올라오는 차도 없다. 나중에 알고보니 올라가는 시간은 박물관 개방시간(오후10시)과 달리 좀 일찍 막는듯 올라온길이 좀 가파라서 그런지 차도로 가니 3배는 길다 ㅠ 그리고 아무것도 없는 도로라 그런지 차없으면 못 갈곳이라는. 주말을 이용하는 것이 좋을듯. 다녀와서 안 사실이지만 그 숲에 코요테가 산다네. 혼자 다니면 덤비고 둘이상은 보기만 한다는데 난 못 봤다~ㅋ 그리고 민박집 주인 아저씨가 하시는 말이 우범지대라더라 ㅋ 다행히도 무사히 산길을 걸어내려왔다 휴휴 산길을 벗어나 한블럭 가면 헐리우드 블루바드. 이제 좀 안심이 됩니다~ㅋ 중간중간 뛰어내려와서 다리가 아프긴 하지만 어쨋든 가볼만한 곳 중 한곳

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