Observatories

A century ago, the tranquil air above Mt. Wilson was an astronomer's dream. Not yet polluted by light from the developing communities below, the 5,800-foot-high peak in the San Gabriel Mountains was ideal for observing the universe. From the famed observatory that sits atop the pine-covered mountain, some of the greatest astronomical discoveries of the 20th century were made.

For many years, Santa Monica resident Gerard Kent would take his camera to Griffith Observatory several times a month to record the landscape of the surrounding park. But after the observatory closed for renovations about five years ago and then reopened last year without its parking lot, Kent avoided the landmark, saying the buses that shuttled visitors from the Los Angeles Zoo to the observatory were too slow and expensive, at $8 for adults and $4 for children.

Following a sharp drop in visitors over the last year, Griffith Observatory announced Friday that it was lifting an unpopular parking ban at the landmark tourist attraction. Beginning today, visitors once again can drive to the observatory's hilltop parking area and jockey for position in the 200-space lot. Good luck though. Before the observatory's five-year renovation and expansion project, caretakers counted more than 1.8 million visitors a year.

Shutting down an old and crippled satellite isn't as simple as pulling a plug. In fact, scientists and engineers at Johns Hopkins University worked late into the day Thursday trying to drain the stubborn batteries of NASA's orbiting FUSE observatory and putting to rest an eight-year mission that tested their ingenuity and patience to the very end. For one astronomer, it was particularly melancholy.

A brush fire broke out late Tuesday afternoon in steep terrain just west of the observatory in Griffith Park -- evoking memories of May's devastating blaze just a half-mile away -- but Los Angeles firefighters subdued the flames in about 90 minutes, leaving only 5 acres charred. No homes were threatened, and no injuries were reported.

Portions of fire-ravaged Griffith Park, including the Los Angeles Zoo and Griffith Observatory, will reopen today, just in time for Mother's Day, traditionally one of the park's busiest weekends. But exactly how much of the park to reopen was the subject of spirited debate among city officials Friday. City Councilman Tom LaBonge and recreation and parks chief Jon Mukri, within five minutes of each other, offered differing estimates of what would be open this weekend.

WHEN THE Griffith Observatory revamped its planetarium, the board of directors rightly turned to a cadre of experts to produce what is one of the most sensational shows anywhere.

Archeologists have solved the mystery of the Thirteen Towers, a line of low stone structures that have spanned an arid Peruvian slope like a massive set of prehistoric teeth for 2,400 years. The towers lined up outside the citadel at Chankillo are a massive solar observatory that marks not only the summer and winter solstices, but also the days and weeks of the year.

Thank you for the coverage of the Griffith Observatory reopening ["Home of the Real Stars," Nov. 2]. The following should be added to the list of movies filmed at the observatory: the cliffhanger serial "The Phantom Empire." It was produced by Mascot Pictures in 1935, right after the observatory was completed. It featured Gene Autry in his first starring role. It was the only western/science fiction serial ever made. The observatory stood in for the underground city of Murania. The observatory's copper roof and Art Deco wall were used for background.

They traveled 8 miles and climbed 842 feet peddling their plan to reach for the stars. But a pair of Hollywood newlyweds who helped convince City Hall to overturn a ban on bicycles at the remodeled Griffith Observatory contend cyclists still have light-years to go to reach their destination.