Glimpse the genuine stars

Griffith Observatory features a photo of cosmic spectacles and has itself posed for enough pictures to become an icon as it stands sentrylike in the Hollywood Hills

STORY SUMMARY | READ THE FULL STORY

Anything larger than 12 megapixels seems top-of-the-line for a digital camera. That is, until it's compared to the Big Picture at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.

The largest astronomical image ever developed, this incredible photo of the universe is 7.4 gigapixels, which equates to a stunning 7,400 megapixels. Covering 3,000 square feet of wall space, the porcelain enamel Big Picture captures more than 1.5 million celestial objects from galaxies to quasars.

Even more mind-boggling is the fact that the Big Picture consists of a miniscule portion of the night, sky equal to holding an index finger a foot from one's face. It is dawning on me that what I discover during my visit to the observatory will both fascinate and humble any earthbound native.

Mining tycoon Griffith J. Griffith funded the original observatory, which opened its doors in 1935. The building's blend of Greek Revival, Art Deco, Moderne, and Beaux Arts architectural styles works to make this one of the most well-recognized structures in Los Angeles. Featured in a number of movies, including the 1955 "Rebel Without a Cause," starring James Dean, the edifice's location high above the Los Angeles basin offers superb views of the famous Hollywood sign as well as surrounding neighborhoods.

By 2002, the building had hosted 70 million guests and was in need of an extensive renovation. Four years and $93 million later, the observatory reopened, and my family made plans to visit.

---

---

FULL STORY »

Perhaps only in L.A. can a link between astronomy and bling be created. Inside the Griffith Observatory, "The Cosmic Connection" is a 150-foot visual time line of the universe composed of space-related jewelry (think moon earrings and star brooches). What is striking is the minuscule portion (less than an inch) that human history occupies.

GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY » Address: 2800 E. Observatory Road, Los Angeles. It can be accessed via the Vermont or Fern Dell entrances to Griffith Park by private vehicle, public bus, taxi, hiking and cycling. The building is located 1,134 feet above sea level on the top of Mount Hollywood, and the road can be steep. » Hours: Noon to 10 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas days. » Admission: Free. Planetarium tickets are optional, are charged separately and can be purchased only on site on a first-come, first-served basis for the day's shows. Children under 5 are allowed to attend only the first performance of the day. » Information: Call (213) 473-0800 (general) or (888) TDD-2555 (hearing impaired); www.griffithobservatory.org » Note: Costs are approximate and subject to change.

At the start of "The Cosmic Connection" are plaques dedicated to donors. These are naturally in the shape of stars and also resemble the plaques embedded in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Exploring further, we find:

Hall of the Sky

Live views of sunspots and solar flares can be seen via the coelostats (tracking devices) and solar telescopes in the Hall of the Sky. A striking visual display contrasts the sun with other stars, and a colorful periodic table illustrates how our bodies and stars comprise the same elements.

Nearby, a half-dozen alcoves are titled Moon Phases, Tides and Eclipse, Day and Night, Sun and Stars, Paths and Seasons. Each contains a multisensory exhibit that explains how the sun and moon affect Earth.

Returning visitors will find the area under the renovated central rotunda familiar. Almost hypnotizing to watch, an elegant yet weighty 240-pound Foucault pendulum automatically and systematically knocks down pegs as proof that Earth rotates. Overhead are murals by Hugo Ballin, restored to their original state, that colorfully portray both mythological and scientific themes.

Hall of the Eye

The Hall of the Eye is next, and we first encounter the Camera Obscura, which reflects images outside the building onto a flat surface inside the exhibit space.

Crackling and sending out what looks like violet lightning bolts is the Tesla Coil, a show stopper every time. "Beyond the Visible" is a refresher in physics, with a display on the various wave forms of radiation. "Using the Sky" is a series of dioramas depicting how different cultures across the centuries have depended on the heavens to determine such facts as the time of day or when to harvest.

"Observing in California" highlights the Golden State's role in astronomy, while "Extending the Eye" demonstrates how optics, and particularly telescopes, have dramatically altered humankind's view of the universe.

Shows and live views

The Samuel Oschin Planetarium is cutting edge, featuring a seamless dome, an all-digital laser projection system and a Zeiss Universarium Mark IX, the most progressive star projector in existence today.

Three hundred plush, reclining seats make watching the current show, "Centered in the Universe," a relaxing experience (a joke on the observatory Web site claims the former seats, with their wooden headrests, were once dubbed the "most uncomfortable seats in the Milky Way Galaxy").

Despite the use of the latest technology, the planetarium retains a personable feel with a lecturer delivering each show's narrative.

The new Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater has stadium seating for 200. In addition to showing the inaugural film, "The Once and Future Griffith Observatory," narrated by Mr. Spock himself, the theater is designed to host educational activities, lectures, demonstrations and other space-related activities.

Besides the solar telescopes and coelostats, the original Zeiss 12-inch refracting telescope is accessible to the public, particularly for viewing the night sky. On some evenings additional telescopes are made available, especially when the Los Angeles Astronomical Society and Sidewalk Astronomers hold their monthly gathering. Coin-operated telescopes located outside of the building allow visitors to also scan the surrounding landscape.

A new addition to the observatory is the Gottlieb Transit Corridor, an instrument-cum-passageway that visually demonstrates the link between time, our calendar and the movement of the sun, moon and stars.

The depths of space

Along the Edge of Space Mezzanine, curious guests can touch meteorites from Mars and the moon, view comet dust and experience an asteroid impact simulator. Intriguing cloud and spark chambers use different methods to track cosmic rays entering Earth's atmosphere. At the end of the mezzanine is a 6-foot glowing replica of our moon.

It is necessary to look in all directions upon entering the Gunther Depths of Space area. Suspended overhead are a glass replica of the Milky Way, a projected model of our solar system and a big screen flashing images of celestial bodies.

"The Big Picture" provides a fitting backdrop for dangling, made-to-scale models of the planets in our solar system. Underneath each planet is an interactive display through which guests learn interesting tidbits such as what the climate is like, how the topography differs from Earth and, by stepping on a scale, how much they would weigh on, say, Mercury versus Jupiter. (I'll take Mercury.)

Perusing the exhibits starts to bring back memories of the times I have spent viewing the cosmos. One experience in particular comes to mind. Years ago I stayed on a thousand-acre dairy farm in rural Vermont. It was so remote that it did not have a typical mailing address and the nearest neighbor seemed miles away.

One wintry, clear night, I ventured outside to gaze at the heavens. The silence and vastness of the night sky brought to mind thoughts similar to those raised after visiting the Griffith Observatory. Both experiences made me ponder what else might be out there in the cosmos, the humble place Earth (and we) occupy in the universe and essentially how limited our human knowledge is. I was reminded to look skyward often to regain this important perspective.