Sky = Report
Moon=20 Phases
Moo= nrise/Moonset=20 | Sun= rise/Sunset=20 |
Ec= lipses
E= quinoxes=20 & Solstices Time
Satell= ites
Come= ts &=20 Meteors
Pla= nets
Plan= et=20 Positions through 2010
Tide=20 Tables
Los = Angeles=20 Weather
A= stronomy=20 Events in Los Angeles

Sky Information

This section contains all the information one could ever want about=20 astronomical and meteorological phenomena available through Griffith = Observatory=20 and other institutions.

Sky Report

The Sky Report is a three-minute recorded telephone message that = gives the=20 latest information on what's up in the sky. You can hear it 24/7 by = dialing=20 (213) 473-0880. There is no charge other than for long-distance fees = if you=20 are outside the Los Angeles area. The text of the Sky Report is also = available=20 on this web site (see the Sky Report web = page for=20 details). The Sky Report is usually updated on Wednesdays.

You might also enjoy Earth & Sky's "Tonight's = Sky, Astronomy for Kids = monthly Sky=20 Calendar with maps, and "The Evening Sky = Map."=20 All are excellent monthly resources.

Moon Phases

This site has tables of Moon Phases for the Pacific Time Zone = 2009<= /A>, 2010<= /A>, 2011<= /A>, 2012<= /A>, and=20 2013<= /A>=20 with times expressed in PST (PDT when applicable). Also included are = times of=20 equinoxes and solstices for each year.

The Observatory also has a table of Moon = Phases from=20 1997-2014 expressed in Universal Time, and the Munich Astro Archive=20 (Germany) has a set of tables of Moon Phases from = 1700 to=20 2199.

To find the phase of the moon for any month, visit the U.S. Naval=20 Observatory's Moonphase = page.

There is a page for Blue=20 Moons. The next blue moon in the Pacific Time Zone is December 31, = 2009.=20 (not the 2007 date currently listed)

Moonrise/Moonset Times

Click here for a table of Moonrise and Moonset times for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010=20 calculated for Los Angeles using software developed at the U. S. Naval=20 Observatory. Times are PST (PDT when applicable).

To find the time of moonrise or moonset for any month (among many = other=20 things), visit the U.S. = Naval=20 Observatory's almanac page.

Chris Peat's Moon=20 Data page (customized for Los Angeles) gives detailed information on = the=20 moon for the date you enter.

You can print monthly calendars of moonrise/moonset and moon phase=20 information (plus sunrise and sunset) at Steve Edward's calculator page = at http://www.sunrisesunset.com/.=

The Moon-Sighting site has = detailed=20 information on the visibility of the moon, especially as it relates to = Islamic=20 needs.

Sunrise/Sunset Times & Sun's=20 Path

Click here for a table of Sunrise, Sunset, and Civil Twilight = times=20 for 2006,= =20 2007,= 2008,= 2009,= 2010,= 2011,= 2012,= 2013,= 2014= , and 2015<= A=20 href=3D"http://www.griffithobs.org/skyfiles/skysunrise2008.htm"> = calculated=20 for Los Angeles using software developed at the U.S. Naval Observatory. = Times=20 are PST (PDT when applicable).

Click here for a graph with explanation that shows the suns' = daily path=20 across the sky throughout the year as seen from Los Angeles (34=B0 = north) and from=20 latitude 42=B0 north.

To find the time of sunrise or sunset (or the sun's position at any = moment)=20 and twilight times for any place and any date (within reason), visit the = U.S. Naval Observatory's = almanac=20 page. Chris Peat's Solar=20 Data page (customized for Los Angeles, but you can change it) at his = Heavens-Above site gives detailed solar data including twilight times = for the=20 date you enter. You can print monthly calendars of sunrise and sunset = times for=20 any location at Steve Edward's calculator page at http://www.sunrisesunset.com/.= And Sunheight gives accurate sun (and = moon and=20 planet) rising and setting data as tables and graphs for thousands of=20 locations.

Planets

See the sites mentioned at the top of this page for descriptions and = charts=20 of the current night sky. And check the Observatory's own Sky Report for a = weekly=20 summary of where the planets are.

Chris Peat's Heavens-Above=20 displays detailed data for each planet and an overhead "orrery" view of = the=20 solar system for dates you enter. The URL linked here is customized for = Los=20 Angeles, but you can change it to another location. Sky View Cafe lets you view = charts of the=20 sky (and more) for any date and time. And AstronomyDaily.com shows the = planets=20 in the sky, in their orbits, and gives detailed information on each = customized=20 for your location.

This simple table=20 for planispheres lists the constellation each naked-eye planet -- = Venus,=20 Mars, Jupiter, Saturn -- is in on a month-by-month basis through the = year 2035.=20 It is intended for people who want to know approximately where the = planets are=20 to plot them on planispheres, or rotating star finders.

Equinoxes and = Solstices

Click here for a table of equinoxes= and=20 solstices plus pehihelions and aphelions from 1992 - 2020, courtesy = the U.S.=20 Naval Observatory.

Time

Access the U. S. Naval Observatory Master Clock and set = your=20 computer's clock or hear the Voice Announcer (requires Real Audio) or go = to "Official US Time" sponsored by the = Department of=20 Commerce and the US Naval Observatory (accurate to within 1/3 = second).

Access a list of Daylight = Saving=20 Time observances in the United States from 1918 through 2015=20 (projected).

Tide Tables

Tidal information for Los Angeles (and other locations) can be found = at: Tide=20 and Current Predictor.

Eclipses

For detailed information (including color maps) on future = solar and=20 lunar eclipses, see the US Naval Observatory's = Upcoming=20 Eclipses site, and NASA's Eclipse Home = Page.=20 For a list of future lunar eclipses visible from Los Angeles go = to the Future = Lunar Eclipses=20 through 2015 page at this web site. Additional references for North = America=20 are Tot= al=20 Solar Eclipse Paths 2001-2050 and Ann= ular=20 Eclipse Paths 2001-2050. The next solar eclipse visible from = Los=20 Angeles does not happen until 2012!

Comets and Meteors

For information on comets that may presently be visible to = amateur=20 astronomers go to:

Astrosite Groningen at: http://www.shopplaza.nl/a= stro/home.htm

Weekly Information on Bright Comets at: http://www.aerit= h.net/comet/weekly/current.html

Sky & Telescope news headlines at: http://SkyandTelescope.c= om/news/current

Central Bureau for Astronomical Infomation at: http://cfa-www.har= vard.edu/iau/Headlines.html

Los Angeles Weather

The Canadian Meteorological Center has very kindly created a web page = that=20 forecasts cloud cover and sky transparency for the Griffith Observatory. = You can=20 access it at http://cleardarksky= .com/c/GriffObsCAkey.html.=20 Our thanks to Attilla Danko for providing this service.

See regional satellite maps plus find local weather forecasts at Intellicast.com. And Wunderground.com = gives the=20 local weather forecast and nighttime observing conditions (plus a star = chart)=20 for the location you choose.

Space Station and = other=20 Satellites

If you enjoy observing artificial satellites, especially the = International=20 Space Station, the Space Shuttle, the Hubble Space Telescope, and = Iridium=20 flares, please go to web sites that will calculate information = customized for=20 your observing location. The Observatory especially recommends Heavens- Above. Among the web = sites=20 that will plot satellites are:

CelesTrak WWW
Heavens-Above
Visual Satellite Observers Home = Page
NASA = Human=20 Spaceflight
Liftoff to=20 Space

Astronomy = Events in the=20 Los Angeles Area

Laura Woodard Eklund of the Mt. Wilson Observatory Association = maintains a=20 list of "Events of Interest to Astronomy Lovers in Greater Los = Angeles"=20 at http://www.mwoa.org/events.htm.