What to KnowLAAS Centennial Celebration at the Public Star PartyGriffith ObservatoryApril 252 to 9:45 p.m.FreeThe celebratory gathering will feature “100 telescopes on the lawn” of the astronomical landmark; the public is welcome to stop by, chat with astronomers and space buffs, and peer into the universe
While the beautiful lawn outside Griffith Observatory is notably large, it could not hold all of the planets and stars in the universe, not even if we huffed and squeezed and pushed and crowded Jupiter against Neptune and found a corner for the Crab Nebula and placed Pluto in a petite pocket of the park.
The lawn is, however, roomy enough for 100 telescopes to be set up during a special celebration, with no pushing of planets or squeezing of stars required.
What will be encouraged, however, is a celebratory spirit, and a connection to the cosmic everything, as the Los Angeles Astronomical Society pays celestial homage to its centennial.
The connection between the society’s centennial and the number of telescopes that will be erected on the Griffith Observatory lawn April 25 is as tight as two heavenly bodies sharing a single orbit: One hundred telescopes will indeed grace the Griffith Park landmark’s outdoor area in honor of the society’s 100th anniversary.
While telescope-viewing opportunities are a major part of the “100 Telescopes for 100 Years” event, there shall be other twinkly offerings filled with pomp and planetary panache.
Those activities include interesting talks, a chance to peruse historical snapshots, and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, as well as “an official proclamation” that pays moving tribute to “… the Society’s contributions to the fabric of the city.”
Visitors will also be able to gaze ahead at the group’s “ambitious plans for the next century.”
The happening is taking place during one of the observatory’s monthly Public Star Parties, which are free to attend and always feature members of local astronomy groups and a line-up of telescopes.
But the milestone-marking event on April 25 will be even bigger than the traditional Public Star Party, what with dozens of powerful universe-observing scopes tempting anyone who wants a peek at objects that are extremely distant, at least distant from the planet that could accurately appear at the end of all of our return address labels.
Want to know more about LAAS and its 100-year-long devotion to the stars in this starriest of cities? Point your telescope in this direction now.