[category]
[title]
Who says the stars are brightest in Hollywood?
On Thursday, August 27, a lunar eclipse will begin around 7:18pm and, by 9:13pm, 96-percent of the full moon will be in the dark. Technically, that's a partial lunar eclipse, but this is L.A. so Griffith Observatory is billing it as a “practically total” one. Either way, it's a night when a full moon turns coppery red, because apparently even celestial bodies need a little extra attention.
RECOMMENDED: If you’re visiting L.A., this is the one thing you absolutely have to do
And no matter where you are in L.A., you have the option of seeing it at its most magnificent during Griffith Observatory's official public viewing. The Observatory’s grounds will be open from 7:25pm to 11pm; the Observatory building itself officially closes at 10pm, but the grounds and restrooms remain available until 11pm. So no need to panic about that long DASH ride back down to Los Feliz without a bathroom.
From wherever you're watching, this is an eclipse where you don't need to own a telescope, understand astrophysics or wear special glasses to appreciate it. Lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye, and, if the skies cooperate, this one should be visible throughout Southern California.
If you can't make it up the hill—or simply don't feel like participating in the observatory's Hunger Games-esque parking situation—the Griffith will also livestream the eclipse from 7:25pm until 12:05am, weather permitting. A lunar eclipse from your couch? Everything really is on streaming these days.
But in L.A., what would any cool event be without worrying about traffic and parking? There's a show at the Greek Theatre that same night, so parking will definitely be complicated. The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus runs from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station, with the final bus leaving the Observatory at 11pm, so plan accordingly and be ready to fight for a seat like it's the last lifeboat on the Titanic.
But it might be worth it, because the next total lunar eclipse visible from L.A. isn't until 2029. So figure out your commute (or where southeast is from your window) and let the universe impress you instead of disappoint you for a change.