Golden Hour: Autumnal Equinox
Join us at sunset on the West Terrace (weather permitting) to mark the start of autumn with beautiful views and live musical accompaniment. Follow Griffith Observatory’s Instagram and Facebook for bonus content.
Upcoming Equinox and Solstice Events at Griffith Observatory
Autumnal Equinox - Sunset
Griffith Observatory marks the start of fall in the northern hemisphere with a public talk focused on the location of the setting Sun on the western horizon. Observatory staff will discuss the meaning of the equinox and how the Sun’s changing path across the sky causes seasonal changes.
As the Sun sets, a live musical performance will feature celestial-themed songs.
This year the equinox occurs at 5:05 p.m. PDT, and sunset is at 6:49 p.m. PDT.
Learn more about the seasons here.
Musical Accompaniment by John Villalobos
John is a professional musician, guitarist, and educator. He is versed in many styles including classical, rock, Latin jazz, Cuban son and rumba, flamenco, and more. He has performed with Celia Cruz, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, and Joan Baez, among others.
John has also taught music at numerous colleges in the greater Los Angeles area and currently teaches at CSU Dominguez Hills.
Golden Hour Q&A
Do you have any previous connection to Griffith Observatory?
Yes, I remember coming to the Observatory more than once on field trips as a kid.
What makes it special?
I think the history surrounding the Observatory and the fact that it’s one of the few observatories in an urban area makes it very special. I also think that because of all the light pollution we have nowadays, the Observatory is very important so that people, especially kids, can come and see the planets and celestial bodies in real time, which can leave a big impression when you are accustomed to looking up at night and just seeing the Moon and a few twinkling lights in the sky.
Have you ever performed outdoors under the sun or stars before? How does it feel?
Yes, I’ve performed at the Hollywood Bowl, the Ford Amphitheater, and other outdoor venues in different parts of the world. I’d never given it thought before but, now that I think about it, it is very different from performing indoors. I think it’s like this for not only the performer, but for the people in the audience as well.
It’s hard to describe the feeling… It feels like you’re part of something bigger, like the notes and vibrations are not going out to just the audience in a walled-off, contained space, but they’re also going upward and out to the sky and the universe, and the audience is part of that.
Seasons
Autumn begins in Earth’s northern hemisphere at 5:05 p.m. PDT. Spring begins in the southern hemisphere at the same time. The September/autumnal equinox is the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator (the projection of Earth’s equator into space) from north to south. From the autumnal equinox until the start of winter – the winter solstice in December – days will get shorter, and the noon elevation of the Sun will decrease. This happens because the Earth’s axis is tilted 23½ degrees to its orbit. Day and night are of equal length today.
Equinox
From the autumnal equinox until the start of winter – the winter solstice in December – days will get shorter, and the noon elevation of the Sun will decrease. This happens because the Earth’s axis is tilted 23½ degrees to its orbit. Day and night are of equal length on September 22.
