The new Ryan Gosling film Project Hail Mary is leading the box office, and if it has you thinking about the outer galaxies, L.A. has a number of places you can explore to learn more.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s no gatekeeping in astronomy,\u201d said Keith Armstrong, president of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society<\/a>, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The amateur group of astronomers welcomes everybody, he said.<\/p>\n The society hosts public star parties<\/a> in various places, including at Griffith Observatory every month and in Silver Lake.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have Jupiter that is really popular right now and its four Galilean moons, we\u2019re starting to be able to see Venus. But the big showstopper this time of year is probably still Orion\u2019s Nebula,\u201d Armstrong said.<\/p>\n Keep up with LAist.<\/p>\n If you’re enjoying this article, you’ll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less. <\/p>\n Here are some places in L.A. that get out of this world.<\/p>\n Garvey Ranch Park Observatory (Monterey Park)<\/p>\n The observatory, where the Los Angeles Astronomical Society is based, is open to the public every Wednesday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. It has an 8-inch refractor telescope, but Armstrong says folks are welcome to bring their own devices and get help on viewing from a society member.<\/p>\n Visit the website.<\/a><\/p>\n Mount Wilson Observatory (Pasadena)<\/p>\n The observatory, founded in 1904, is housed in the San Gabriel Mountains and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ticketed tours are also available on the weekends and at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. during the spring and summer months.<\/p>\n Visit the website.<\/a><\/p>\n Columbia Memorial Space Center (Downey)<\/p>\n The center is a space museum owned by the city of Downey with interactive exhibits for people to learn about space shuttle operations. Admission is $5 a person (kids 3 and younger are free).<\/p>\n Visit the website.<\/a><\/p>\n California Science Center (Los Angeles)<\/p>\n Home to the space shuttle Endeavor, the science center is free to the public and houses a number of hands-on exhibits, plus IMAX movies.<\/p>\n