Matthew – Griffith Media

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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between November 1 and November 30, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

All times are in Pacific Standard Time.

On the 1st, the sun rises in the east-southeast at 6:13 a.m. and sets in the west-southwest at 5:00 p.m. On the 30th, the sun rises in the east-southeast at 6:40 a.m. and sets in the west-southwest at 4:44 p.m.

PLANETS

Mercury begins the month close to the sun and is not safe to observe. On the 10th, the planet rises in the east-southeast at 5:22 a.m., and the sun rises at 6:21 a.m., 59 minutes later. Mercury is 11-percent illuminated and 9.2 arcseconds wide. A magnification of 150x is needed to see such a small disk. On the 30th, Mercury rises in the east-southeast at 5:17 a.m., and the sun rises at 6:40 a.m., one hour 23 minutes later. The planet is 83-percent illuminated and 5.6 arcseconds wide.

Venus rises in the east-southeast at 5:17 a.m., on the 1st, and the sun rises at 6:13 a.m., 56 minutes later. The planet is 2.5-percent illuminated and 60 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, Venus rises in the east at 3:24 a.m., with a disk that is 27-percent illuminated and 40 arcseconds wide. A small telescope with a magnification of 100x will show the disk. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Mars is in Leo the Lion. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 11:47 p.m., with a disk that is 89-percent illuminated and 6.5 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 10:54 p.m., with a disk that is 90-percent illuminated and 7.9 arcseconds wide. A telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed to see its disk.

Jupiter is in Leo the Lion. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 12:17 a.m., with a disk that is 36 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, Jupiter rises at 10:30 p.m., with a disk that is 39 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Cetus the Sea Monster. On the 1st, Saturn sets in the west at 3:55 a.m., with a disk that is 19 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, Saturn sets in the west at 1:55 a.m. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 6:16 p.m. On the 30th, Uranus rises at 4:18 p.m. On the 15th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 4h 8m 42s and declination +20° 49ʹ 27ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.8-arcsecond disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, the planet sets in the west at 3:22 a.m. On the 30th, Neptune sets in the west at 1:26 a.m. On the 15th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0h 8m 57s and declination -0° 33ʹ 51ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.3-arcsecond disk.

The moon is at last quarter on the 1st, new on the 8th, first quarter on the 17th, full on the 24th, and last quarter again on the 30th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 1, at 2:00 a.m. All clocks must be set back one hour, according to the saying, “Spring forward, fall back.”

The Leonid meteor shower is active from the 6th through the 30th. The shower peaks from the evening of the 17th through to the morning of 18th. The shower is named after the constellation Leo the Lion, from which the meteors appear to originate. The Leonids will produce up to 15 meteors per hour with many bright meteors. The moon is a 66-percent waxing gibbous and will set before the peak period and not interfere with observation this year. The parent object is the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle.

The Northern Taurid meteor shower is active from November 20 to December 10. The shower peaks from the evening of the 11th to the morning of the 12th. The shower is named after the constellation of Taurus the Bull, where the meteors appear to originate. The moon is a waxing crescent and will not interfere with observations. The parent object is the comet 2P/Encke. The Northern Taurids might produce ten to 20 meteors per hour, with occasional fireballs.

The Southern Taurid meteor shower has two peaks. The annual component is on November 14. The fireball component peaks from the evening of November 4 through to the morning of the 5th. The shower is named after the constellation of Taurus the Bull, where the meteors appear to originate. The moon is a waning crescent and will not interfere with observations. The parent object is the comet 2P/Encke. The Southern Taurids rarely produce more than five meteors per hour, but many are bright fireballs.

Griffith Observatory normally provides free public sky observing day and night – weath­er permitting – through a variety of telescopes. Currently, the Observatory is open Tuesday through Sunday. To plan a visit to the Observatory, please see our website (www. griffithobs.org) for the latest information. The Sky Report, also available on the website, pro­vides monthly observing information.

LISTEN to this week’s Sky Report

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between October 1 and October 31, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

All times are in Pacific Daylight Time.

On the 1st, the sun rises at 6:48 a.m. and sets at 6:37 p.m. On the 31st, the sun rises at 7:12 a.m. and sets at 6:01 p.m.

PLANETS

Mercury sets in the west-southwest at 7:31 p.m. on the 1st, and the sun sets at 6:37 p.m., 54 minutes earlier. The planet is 77-percent illuminated and 5.7 arcseconds wide.  On the 22nd, the sun sets at 6:10 p.m., and Mercury sets in the west-southwest at 7:01 p.m., 51 minutes later. The planet is 38-percent illuminated and 8.1 arcseconds wide. After the 22nd, Mercury is close to the sun and is not safe to observe. A magnification of 150x is needed to see the disk of the planet. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus on the 1st sets in the west-southwest at 7:27 p.m., 50 minutes after the sun sets. The planet is close to the sun and is not safe to observe.

Mars is in Cancer the Crab and crosses into Leo the Lion on the 30th. The planet rises in the east-northeast at 1:28 a.m. on the 1st and is 90-percent illuminated and 5.6 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, Mars rises at 12:50 a.m. and is 90-percent illuminated and 6.5 arcseconds wide.

Jupiter is in Leo the Lion. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 2:56 a.m. with a disk 33 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, Jupiter rises at 1:20 a.m. with a disk 36 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Cetus the Sea Monster. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east at 6:48 p.m. On the 31st, Saturn sets in the west at 4:59 a.m. The planet is 20 arcseconds wide. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 9:21 p.m. On the 31st, Uranus rises at 7:20 p.m. On the 15th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 4h 13m 16s and declination +21° 1ʹ 10ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.8-arcsecond disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east at 6:21 p.m. On the 31st, Neptune sets due west at 4:26 a.m. On the 15th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0h 11m 23s and declination -0° 18ʹ 51ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.3-arcsecond disk.

The moon is at last quarter on the 3rd, new on the 10th, first quarter on the 18th, and full on the 25th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The Orionid meteor shower is active from October 2 to November 7. The Orionids produce 10 to 20 shower members at maximum. The radiant is in the constellation of Orion the Hunter. The parent object is the famous comet 1P/Halley. The peak is on the night of October 21 – 22. The waxing gibbous moon will interfere with observations.

Mars passes in front of the large open star cluster M44 in Cancer the Crab on the 11th.

The moon passes in front of M44 on the 5th at 3:00 a.m.

Griffith Observatory normally provides free public sky observing day and night – weath­er permitting – through a variety of telescopes. Currently, the Observatory is open Tuesday through Sunday. To plan a visit to the Observatory, please see our website (www.griffithobs.org) for the latest information. The Sky Report, also available on the website, pro­vides monthly observing information.

LISTEN to this week’s Sky Report

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between September 1 and September 30, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

All times are in Pacific Daylight Time, PDT.

SUN

On the 1st, the sun rises at 6:27 a.m. and sets at 7:19 p.m. On the 30th, the sun rises at 6:47 a.m. and sets at 6:39 p.m.

PLANETS

Mercury is close to the sun all month long and is not safe to observe. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus on the 1st, sets in the west-southwest at 9:00 p.m., and is 39-percent illuminated and 30 arcseconds wide. On the 28th, the sun sets at 6:41 p.m. and Venus sets at 7:39 p.m., 58 minutes later, and is 15-percent illuminated and 47 arcseconds wide. After the 28th, Venus is close to the sun and is not safe to observe. A telescope with a magnification of 100x is needed to see the planet’s disk. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Mars is in Gemini the Twins. On the 24th Mars enters Cancer the Crab.  On the 1st, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 2:00 a.m. and is 92-percent illuminated and 5.1 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, Mars rises at 1:29 a.m. and is 90-percent illuminated and 5.6 arcseconds wide. A telescope with a magnification of 200x is needed to see the small disk of Mars.

Jupiter is in Cancer the Crab. The planet enters Leo the Lion on the 23rd. On the 1st, Jupiter rises in the east-northeast at 4:25 a.m. and is 32 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, Jupiter rises at 2:59 a.m., PDT, and is 33 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 5th, the planet enters Cetus the Sea Monster. On the 1st, Saturn rises in the east at 8:52 p.m. and is 19 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, the planet rises at 6:53 p.m. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 11:19 p.m. On the 30th, Uranus rises at 9:25 p.m. On the 15th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 4h 15m 16s and declination of +21° 6ʹ 6ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.7-arcsecond disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, Neptune rises in the east at 8:21 p.m. On the 30th, Neptune rises at 6:25 p.m. On the 15th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 00h 14m 23s and declination of +0° 0ʹ 44ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.4-arcsecond disk.

The moon is at last quarter on the 4th, new on the 10th, first quarter on the 18th, and full on the 26th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Autumn begins and summer ends when the sun reaches the autumnal equinox on September 22 at 5:05 p.m. At this moment, the sun crosses the celestial equator from north to south on its journey along the ecliptic. The sun rises at 6:41 a.m. and sets at 6:50 p.m. The day is 12 hours and nine minutes long. The days will continue to grow shorter, and the nights get longer, until the sun reaches the winter solstice on December 21.

Griffith Observatory normally provides free public sky observing day and night – weath­er permitting – through a variety of telescopes. Currently, the Observatory is open Tuesday through Sunday. To plan a visit to the Observatory, please see our website (www.griffithobs.org) for the latest information. The Sky Report, also available on the website, pro­vides monthly observing information.

LISTEN to this week’s Sky Report

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between August 1 and August 31, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

All times are in Pacific Daylight Time, PDT.

SUN

On the 1st, the sun rises at 6:05 a.m., and sets at 7:54 p.m. On the 31st, the sun rises at 6:26 a.m., and sets at 7:20 p.m.

PLANETS

Mercury rises in the east-northeast at 4:38 a.m., on the 1st, with a disk that is 35-percent illuminated and 7.9 arcseconds wide. On the 15th, Mercury rises in the east-northeast at 5:14 a.m., and the sun rises at 6:15 a.m., one hour one minute later. The planet is 84-percent illuminated and 5.6 arcseconds wide. A telescope with a magnification of 150x is required to see the disk. After the 15th, Mercury is close to the sun, and it is not safe to observe. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus sets in the west at 10:00 p.m., on the 1st, with a disk that is 56-percent illuminated and 21 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, Venus sets in the west-southwest at 9:02 p.m., with a disk that is 39-percent illuminated and 30 arcseconds wide. A telescope with a magnification of 100x is needed to see the planet’s disk.

Mars is in Taurus the Bull. The planet crosses into Gemini the Twins on the 11th. On the 1st, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 2:33 a.m., with a disk that is 94-percent illuminated and 4.7 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 2:01 a.m., with a disk that is 92-percent illuminated and 5.0 arcseconds wide. A telescope with a magnification of 200x is needed to see its disk.

Jupiter is in Cancer the Crab. On the 1st, the planet is close to the sun, and it is not safe to observe.  On the 31st, Jupiter rises in the east-northeast at 4:28 a.m. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, Saturn rises in the east at 10:56 p.m., with a disk that is 18 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, the planet rises at 8:56 p.m. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 1:23 a.m. On the 31st, Uranus rises at 11:23 p.m. On the 15th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 4h 14m 1s and declination of +21° 2ʹ 56ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.6-arcsecond disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, Neptune rises in the east at 10:24 p.m. On the 31st, Neptune rises at 8:25 p.m. On the 15th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0h 17m 3s and declination of +0° 19ʹ 1ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.3-arcsecond disk.

The moon is at last quarter on the 5th, new on the 12th, first quarter on the 19th, and full on the 27th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

A partial lunar eclipse will occur on Thursday, the 27th. The moon rises at 7:18 p.m. The moon enters the penumbra, the outer part of earth’s shadow, at 6:24 p.m., before the moon appears. The moon enters the umbra, the inner part of earth’s shadow, at 7:34 p.m. Maximum eclipse occurs at 9:13 p.m., when 96-percent of the Moon is obscured by Earth’s umbra. The moon exits the umbra at 10:52 p.m.

Griffith Observatory will do a livestream Internet broadcast of this event.

The Perseid meteor shower is the most popular meteor shower. It is active from July 17 to August 24. They peak from 9:16 p.m., on the 11th through 5:13 a.m., on the 12th. The moon is new and will not interfere with observation. Normal rates as seen from rural locations range from 50 to 100 shower members per hour at maximum. The best viewing is at sites away from all artificial lights. The Perseids are particles released from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. They are called Perseids because the radiant, the area of the sky from which the meteors seem to originate, is located near the prominent constellation Perseus the Hero.

Griffith Observatory normally provides free public sky observing day and night – weath­er permitting – through a variety of telescopes. Currently, the Observatory is open Tuesday through Sunday. To plan a visit to the Observatory, please see our website (www.griffithobs.org) for the latest information. The Sky Report, also available on the website, pro­vides monthly observing information.

LISTEN to this week’s Sky Report

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between July 1 and July 31, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

All times are in Pacific Daylight Time, PDT.

SUN

On the 1st, the sun rises in the east-northeast at 5:45 a.m., and sets in the west-northwest at 8:09 p.m. On the 31st, the sun rises in the east-northeast at 6:04 a.m., and sets in the west-northwest at 7:55 p.m.

PLANETS

Mercury is close to the sun and is not safe to observe. On the 24th, Mercury rises in the east-northeast at 4:58 a.m., and the sun rises at 5:59 a.m., one hour one minute later. The planet is 13-percent illuminated and 9.8 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, Mercury rises in the east-northeast at 4:39 a.m., and the sun rises at 6:04 a.m. The planet is 31-percent illuminated and 8.1 arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus sets in the west-northwest at 10:38 p.m., on the 1st, and the sun sets at 8:09 p.m. Venus is 69-percent illuminated and 16 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, the sun sets at 7:55 p.m., and Venus sets in the west at 10:02 p.m., with a disk that is 56-percent illuminated and 20 arcseconds wide.

Mars is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 3:14 a.m. On the 31st, Mars rises at 2:34 a.m. The planet is 94-percent illuminated and 4.5 arcseconds wide. A magnification of 200x or more is needed to see the planet’s disk.

Jupiter is in Cancer the Crab. On the 1st, Jupiter sets in the west-northwest at 9:25 p.m. On the 9th, the sun sets at 8:07 p.m., and Jupiter sets at 9:00 p.m., 53 minutes later.  After the 9th, Jupiter is close to the sun and is not safe to observe for the rest of July. Do not observe any planet when it is close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, Saturn rises in the east at 1:00 a.m. On the 31st, the planet rises at 11:00 p.m. Saturn is 18 arcseconds wide. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, Uranus rises in the east-northeast at 3:20 a.m. On the 31st, Uranus rises at 1:27 a.m. On the 15th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 4h 9m 40s and declination of +20° 51ʹ 40ʺ. A magnification of 200x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.5-arcsecond disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, Neptune rises in the east at 12:30 a.m. On the 31st, Neptune rises at 10:28 p.m. On the 15th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0h 18m 21s and declination of +0° 29ʹ 3ʺ. A magnification of 200x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.3-arcsecond disk.

The moon is at last quarter on the 7th, new on the 14th, first quarter on the 21st, and full on the 29th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The Southern delta Aquariid meteor shower occurs from July 3 to August 15. The meteors will peak from the night of the 30th through to the morning of the 31st. The nearly full moon will interfere with observations. The shower is best seen from the southern hemisphere. From northern latitudes the radiant is located lower in the southern sky, and therefore rates are lower. These meteors produce good rates for a week centered on the night of maximum. These are usually faint meteors that lack both persistent trains and fireballs. The parent object might be the sun-grazing comet.

The alpha Capricornid meteor shower occurs from July 7 to August 13 with a “plateau-like” maximum centered on the 31st. The peak will occur from the night of the 30th through to the morning of the 31st. Again, the full moon will interfere with observations. This shower is not very strong and rarely produces more than five shower members per hour. The shower is notable, however, for the number of bright fireballs produced during its activity period. This shower is seen equally well on either side of the equator. The parent object is the comet 169P/NEAT.

Griffith Observatory normally provides free public sky observing day and night — weath­er permitting — through a variety of telescopes. Currently, the Observatory is open Tuesday through Sunday. To plan a visit to the Observatory, please see our website (https://griffithobservatory.lacity.gov/) for the latest information. The Sky Report, also available on the website, pro­vides monthly observing information.

LISTEN to this week’s Sky Report

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between June 1 and June 30, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

All times are in Pacific Daylight Time, PDT.

The sun rises on the 1st at 5:43 a.m., and sets at 8:00 p.m.  On the 30th, the sun rises at 5:45 a.m. and sets at 8:09 p.m.

Mercury on the 1st, sets in the west-northwest at 9:35 p.m. The planet is 70-percent illuminated and 6.1 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, the sun sets at 8:09 p.m., and Mercury sets in the west-northwest at 9:02 p.m., 53 minutes later. The planet is 13-percent illuminated and 11 arcseconds wide.

Venus sets in the west-northwest on the 1st at 10:39 p.m., with a disk that is 80-percent illuminated and 13 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, Venus sets in the west-northwest at 10:39 p.m., with a disk that is 70-percent illuminated and 16 arcseconds wide.

Mars is in Aries the Ram. On the 19th the planet enters Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 4:03 a.m., and the sun rises at 5:43 a.m. The planet is 96-percent illuminated and 4.3 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 3:16 a.m., with a disk 95-percent illuminated and 4.4 arcseconds wide. A magnification of over 150x is needed to see the planet’s small disk.

Jupiter is in Gemini the Twins. On the 1st, Jupiter sets in the west-northwest at 11:01 p.m. On the 30th, Jupiter sets at 9:28 p.m.  Jupiter is 33 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, Saturn rises in the east at 2:52 a.m. On the 30th, the planet rises at 1:04 a.m.  Saturn is 17 arcseconds wide. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x. Saturn is about one degree south of Neptune in June.

Note: Saturn is in Cetus the sea monster during June 1-3

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 5:12 a.m., 31 minutes before the sun rises. On the 30th, Uranus rises at 3:24 a.m. On the 15th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 4h 3m 22s and declination of +20° 34ʹ 30ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.5-arcsecond disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, Neptune rises in the east at 2:27 a.m., and on the 30th, the planet rises at 12:34 a.m. On the 15th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0h 17m 52s and declination of +0° 27ʹ 36ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.3-arcsecond disk.

The moon is at last quarter on the 8th, new moon on the 14th, first quarter on the 21st, and full moon on the 29th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Summer begins in the northern hemisphere, and winter in the southern hemisphere, at 1:24 a.m. on June 21. At this precise moment, the sun reaches its northernmost point on the ecliptic.  This point and the time the sun meets it are called the summer solstice. Summer ends with the autumnal equinox on September 22.

Jovian Satellite Events

Io starts crossing Jupiter’s disk on the 15th at 7:49 p.m.  Io’s shadow starts crossing Jupiter’s disk at 8:30 p.m.

Europa crosses Jupiter’s disk on the 16th at 6:36 p.m.  Europa’s shadow starts crossing Jupiter’s disk at 7:36 p.m.

Ganymede crosses Jupiter’s disk on the 27th at 4:51 p.m.  Ganymede’s shadow starts crossing Jupiter’s disk starting at 6:54 p.m.

Venus Events

Venus is one and a half degrees north of Jupiter on the evening of the 8th.

Venus is half a degree north of the center of the open star cluster M44 on the evening of the 19th.

Venus is occulted by the moon on the morning of the 17th at 11:40 a.m.  Venus reappears from behind the moon at 12:44 p.m.

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LISTEN to this week’s Sky Report

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between May 1 and May 31, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury begins May close to the sun, and it is not safe to observe. On the 24th, the sun sets at 7:55 p.m., PDT, and Mercury sets in the west-northwest at 8:57 p.m., PDT, one hour two minutes later. On the 31st, the sun sets at 7:59 p.m., PDT, and Mercury sets at 9:31 p.m., PDT. The planet is 72-percent illuminated and is 6.0 arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus sets on the 1st in the west-northwest at 9:54 p.m., PDT, and the sun sets at 7:37 p.m., PDT. The planet is 87-percent illuminated and 12 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, Venus sets at 10:38 p.m., PDT, and is 80-percent illuminated and 13 arcseconds wide.

Mars is in Pisces the Fishes. The planet moves into Aries the Ram on the 18th. On the 1st, Mars rises in the east at 5:00 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 6:04 a.m., PDT, one hour four minutes later. The planet is 98-percent illuminated and 4.2 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 4:05 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 5:43 a.m., PDT. A telescope with a magnification of 200x is needed to see the disk.

Jupiter is in Gemini the Twins. On the 1st, Jupiter sets in the west-northwest at 12:47 a.m., PDT, and is 36 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, the planet sets in the west-northwest at 11:04 p.m., PDT, and is 33 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons also can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Cetus the Sea Monster. On the 1st, Saturn rises in the east at 4:46 a.m., PDT, and is 16 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, the planet rises at 2:56 a.m., PDT. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, may be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, the planet sets in the west-northwest at 9:06 p.m., PDT. On the 7th, the sun sets at 7:42 p.m., PDT, and Uranus sets at 8:44 p.m., PDT, one hour two minutes later. After the 7th, Uranus is close to the sun, and it is not safe to observe it. The planet’s disk is 3.4 arcseconds wide. On the 15th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3h 55m 53s, declination +20° 12ʹ 53ʺ. A telescope with a magnification of 200x is needed to see its disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, Neptune rises in the east at 4:27 a.m., PDT. On the 31st, the planet rises in the east at 2:31 a.m., PDT. The planet is 2.2 arcseconds wide. On the 15th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0h 15m 34s, declination +0° 14ʹ 22ʺ. A telescope with a magnification of 200x is needed to see its disk.

The moon is full on the 1st, last quarter on the 9th, new on the 16th, first quarter on the 23rd, and full again on the 31st.

SPECIAL EVENTS

A Blue Moon will occur on May 31.  According to modern tradition, a Blue Moon is the second Full Moon in a calendar month.

The eta Aquariid meteor shower will occur from the night of April 19 through May 28. The meteors come from comet Halley. They are named for the star in Aquarius the Water Bearer, from which they appear to originate. The shower is best seen from the southern hemisphere. From the northern hemisphere, it usually produces medium rates of 10 to 30 meteors per hour just before dawn. The meteors are swift with a high percentage of persistent trains but few fireballs. The peak occurs from the evening of the 5th through the morning of the 6th, with rates approaching 50 meteors an hour. The waning gibbous moon is 73-percent illuminated and will interfere with observations after midnight.

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LISTEN to this week’s Sky Report

https://www.griffithmedia.org/skyreport/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/APR_2026_Sky_Report.mp3

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between April 1 and April 30, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury rises in the east at 5:35 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 6:40 a.m., PDT, one hour five minutes later. Mercury is 45-percent illuminated and 8.0 arcseconds wide. On the 8th, Mercury rises in the east at 5:30 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 6:31 a.m., PDT, one hour one minute later. Mercury is 56-percent illuminated and 7.1 arcseconds wide. For the remainder of April Mercury is close to the sun and cannot be safely observed. Do not observe any planet when it appears close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus sets in the west at 8:52 p.m., PDT, on the 1st, and the sun sets at 7:14 p.m., PDT, and is 94-percent illuminated and 10 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, Venus sets in the west-northwest at 9:52 p.m., PDT, and is 88-percent illuminated and 12 arcseconds wide.

Mars begins April close to the sun and cannot be safely observed. On the 30th, Mars rises in the east at 5:02 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 6:05 a.m., PDT, one hour three minutes after. The planet is 98-percent illuminated and 4.1 arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it appears close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Jupiter is in the constellation Gemini the Twins. On the 1st, Jupiter sets in the west-northwest at 2:33 a.m., PDT, and is 37 arcseconds wide. On the 30th, the planet sets in the west-northwest at 12:50 a.m., PDT. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in the constellation Cetus the Monster. The planet is close to the sun until the 26th, and it is not safe to observe it. On the 26th, Saturn rises in the east at 5:04 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 6:09 a.m., PDT, one hour five minutes later. Do not observe any planet when it appears close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Uranus is in the constellation Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, Uranus sets in the west-northwest at 10:57 p.m., PDT. On the 30th, Uranus sets in the west-northwest at 9:10 p.m., PDT. On the 15th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3h 49m 1s with a declination of +19° 51ʹ 44ʺ. The disk of Uranus is only 3.5 arcseconds wide, and so a telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed.

Neptune is in the constellation Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, Neptune rises in the east at 6:22 a.m., PDT. On the 30th, the planet rises in the east at 4:31 a.m., PDT. The position of Neptune on the 15th is Right Ascension 0h 12m 4s with a declination of –0° 7ʹ 23ʺ. The disk of Neptune is only 2.2 arcseconds wide, and so a telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed.

The moon is full on the 1st, last quarter on the 9th, new on the 17th, and first quarter on the 23rd.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The Lyrid meteor shower is active from the evening of April 14 to the morning of the 30th. The parent body is comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher). The Lyrids are named after the constellation of Lyra the Harp, from which they appear to originate. The Lyrid meteors comprise a medium-strength shower, with perhaps 20 meteors per hour at the peak, which will occur from the evening of the 21st to the morning of the 22nd. The Lyrids can produce occasional fireballs. The moon will be a crescent, 27-percent illuminated and will not interfere with observations.

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LISTEN to this week’s Sky Report

https://www.griffithmedia.org/skyreport/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MAR_2026_Sky_Report.mp3

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between March 1 and March 31, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury starts March close to the sun and is not safe to observe. On the 20th, the planet rises in the east at 5:58 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 6:57 a.m., PDT, 59 minutes later. Mercury is 22-percent illuminated and 9.9 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, Mercury rises in the east at 5:36 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 6:42 a.m., PDT, one hour six minutes later. Mercury is 44-percent illuminated and 8.1 arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it appears close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus sets in the west at 6:50 p.m., PST, on the 1st, and the sun sets at 5:50 p.m., PST, one hour earlier. Venus is 98-percent illuminated and 10 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, the sun sets at 7:13 p.m., PDT, and Venus sets in the west-northwest at 8:50 p.m., PDT, one hour 37 minutes later. The planet is 94-percent illuminated and 11 arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it appears close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Mars is close to the sun throughout March and not safe to observe.

Jupiter is in the constellation Gemini the Twins. On the 1st, Jupiter sets in the west-northwest at 3:32 a.m., PST. On the 31st, the planet sets in the west-northwest at 2:36 a.m., PDT. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is close to the sun throughout March and not safe to observe.

Uranus is in the constellation Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, Uranus sets in the west-northwest at 11:57 p.m., PST. On the 31st, the planet sets at 11:00 p.m., PDT. On the 15th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3h 43m 36s with a declination of +19° 34ʹ 4ʺ. The disk of Uranus is only 3.5 arcseconds wide, and so a telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed.

Neptune is in the constellation Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, Neptune sets in the west at 7:20 p.m., PST, one hour 30 minutes after the sun sets, with a disk 2.2 arcseconds wide. On the 7th, the sun sets at 5:55 p.m., PST, and Neptune sets at 6:58 p.m., PST, one hour three minutes after the sun sets. After the 7th, Neptune is close to the sun for the rest of March and not safe to observe. The position of Neptune on the 15th is Right Ascension 0h 7m 48s with a declination of

The moon is full on the 3rd, last quarter on the 11th, new on the 18th, and first quarter on the 25th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 8th, at 2:00 a.m., PST. All clocks must be set forward one hour, according to the saying, “Spring forward, fall back.”

Spring begins in the earth’s northern hemisphere (and autumn in the southern hemisphere) at 7:46 a.m., PDT, on March 20. At this precise moment, when the sun reaches the point where the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator, it moves from south to north. The point where and the time when the sun crosses the celestial equator to the north is the vernal equinox. Spring ends with the summer solstice on June 21.

A total lunar eclipse occurs on the 3rd. During this eclipse, the moon will be well within the umbra part of earth’s shadow, the inner darker portion of the shadow. The moon enters the outer part of earth’s shadow, called the penumbra, at 12:44 a.m., PST. The moon enters the umbra part of earth’s shadow at 1:50 a.m., PST, and is completely in the umbra at 3:04 a.m., PST. Mid-eclipse is at 3:34 a.m., PST. The moon starts to exit the umbra at 4:03 a.m., PST, and is completely out of the umbra at 5:17 a.m., PST. Griffith Observatory will hold a web broadcast, but the observatory and Griffith park will be closed to the public.

Griffith Observatory normally provides free public sky observing day and night–weath­er permitting–through a variety of telescopes. Currently, the Observatory is open Tuesday through Sunday. To plan a visit to the Observatory, please see our website (https://griffithobservatory.lacity.gov/) for the latest information. The Sky Report, also available on the website, pro­vides monthly observing information.

LISTEN to this week’s Sky Report

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between February 1 and February 28, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury begins April close to the sun and is not safe to observe. On the 6th, the planet sets in the west-southwest at 6:24 p.m., PST, and the sun sets at 5:29 p.m., PST, 55 minutes earlier. The planet is 92-percent illuminated and 5.3 arcseconds wide. On the 28th, the sun sets at 5:49 p.m., PST, and Mercury sets in the west at 6:45 p.m., PST, 56 minutes later. The planet is 14-percent illuminated and 9.3 arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus begins February close to the sun and is not safe to observe. On the 28th, Venus sets in the west-southwest at 6:48 p.m., PST, 59 minutes after the sun sets.

Mars is close to the sun all month long and not safe to observe.

Jupiter is in Gemini the Twins. On the 1st, the planet sets in the west-northwest at 5:30 a.m., PST, and is 45 arcseconds wide. On the 28th, Jupiter sets in the west-northwest at 3:36 a.m., PST, and is 43 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot and the four bright Galilean moons moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, the planet sets in the west at 8:59 p.m., PST. Saturn is 16 arcseconds wide. On the 28th, the planet sets at 7:27 p.m., PST. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon Titan may be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in the constellation Taurus the Bull. On the 1st, the planet sets in the west-northwest at 1:46 a.m., PST, and is 3.7 arcseconds wide. On the 28th, Uranus sets in the west-northwest at 12:01 a.m., PST. On the 15th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3h 41m 8s with a declination of +19° 25ʹ 29ʺ. A telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed to show the disk.

Neptune is in the constellation Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, the planet sets in the west at 9:06 p.m., PST, and is 2.2 arcseconds wide. On the 28th, Neptune sets at 7:24 p.m., PST. On the 15th, the planet is at Right Ascension 0h 4m 9s with a declination of -0° 58ʹ 41ʺ. A telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed to show the disk.

Full moon occurs on the 1st, last quarter on the 9th, new moon on the 17th, and first quarter on the 24th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

There are no special events in February.

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