Observatories

"Time's Up" by the numbers 50 million: pixels displayed on the dome 350,000-400,000: planetarium visitors annually 300: seats in the theater 256: computers in the observatory render farm 33: minutes in "Time's Up" 32.2: speakers (32 speakers plus two subwoofers) 25: computers required for show playback 2: Digistar laser projectors 1: Universarium star projector   FOR THE RECORD: Griffith Observatory: In the May 29 Calendar section, an information box accompanying a story about the new “Time's Up” show at the Griffith Observatory said that it would be playing Mondays through Fridays at 6:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Those times are for Wednesdays through Fridays; there are no showings on Mondays and Tuesdays.

A scene depicting the total destruction of Santa Monica - complete with fiery meteorites, land masses shearing off into the sea and swarms of flying monkeys - might seem better suited to a Hollywood disaster movie than a planetarium show. But "Time's Up," opening at the Griffith Observatory on Thursday, is not the kind of planetarium show you might remember from grade school. The imagery goes way beyond the traditional static view of the stars, while the presentation forgoes canned narration and gesturing at constellations.

In deep, cold space, nearly a million miles from Earth, a giant telescope later this decade will scan for the first light to streak across the universe more than 13 billion years ago. The seven-ton spacecraft, one of the most ambitious and costly science projects in U.S. history, is under construction for NASA at Northrop Grumman Corp.'s space park complex in Redondo Beach. The aim is to capture the oldest light, taking cosmologists to the time after the big bang when matter had cooled just enough to start forming the first blazing stars in what had been empty darkness.

MUSIC Former UC Berkeley film student Kreayshawn has directed videos for Lil B and Soulja Boy, but she's since found her true calling on the other side of the camera. The rapper, DJ, director and self-described swag assassin recently signed to Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment on the strength of her mega-hit video for "Gucci Gucci. " The Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. Fri. 8 p.m. $22.50. (714) 957-0600. http://www.observatoryoc.com.

The paparazzi staked out a spot in the Hollywood Hills before dawn. The western sky was the red carpet, the moon the day's celebrity. That was the scene early Saturday at the Griffith Observatory, where several hundred people gathered in the dark with binoculars, cameras and telescopes to watch a total lunar eclipse — the last one until 2014. "It's a celestial festival out here," Capm Petersen, 39, said as he set up his camera before the big event. The crowd began gathering on the observatory's lawn shortly after 4 a.m. in anticipation of "totality" — the moment when the Earth fully blocks the sun, leaving the moon in its shadow.

It's the rare filmmaker who drops Schrodinger's Cat into everyday conversation. But Mike Cahill, the director and co-writer of the new science-fiction movie "Another Earth," has an affinity for the obscure. Walking the halls of Griffith Observatory on a recent weekday evening, he enthusiastically cited the scientific paradox — a riddle of sorts related to quantum mechanics — to explain a theme in his movie. Then, upon catching sight of one exhibit, he slapped his hands to his face with giddy delight.

Times reader "phreader" captured this photo of L.A.'s iconic Griffith Observatory during a recent trip. "Visited family in L.A. in mid-January and caught 85-degree weather, fantastic sunsets and scenes like this," the photographer said. "Golden memories for sure. " Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park opened May 14, 1935. The observatory sits on 3,015 acres of land donated to the city of Los Angeles by Griffith J. Griffith, a mining and real estate mogul. Griffith donated money to build the observatory to make astronomy more accessible to the public.

Astronomer Leonard Searle, a former director of the Carnegie Observatories whose observations provided crucial information in determining the conditions of the Big Bang that created the universe and helped explain how heavy elements are produced in stars, has died. He was 79. Searle died July 2 at his home in Pasadena, according to the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C. No cause of death was released. Searle also played a crucial role in the construction of the twin 6.5-meter (255-inch)

Kevin Nealon has come a long way from his "Saturday Night Live" days. For one thing, he's swapped coasts and now resides in the South Bay with wife Susan and young son Gable. But his career's hotter than ever, with the hit Showtime series "Weeds" as well as his Nick at Nite animated show "Glenn Martin, DDS," which just began its second season. His weekends are on the kooky side, but there are some tasty finds too. 4-day weekend My weekends really start on Thursdays, just because it seemed like a good idea back when I was more of a drinker.