On January 6th, at 10 p.m, the venerable Griffith Observatory and planetarium in Los Angeles, California, will close its doors to the public for more than three years. When it reopens on May 14, 2005 — the observatory's 70th birthday — it will be bigger and better than ever — a mecca of astronomical outreach and education for decades to come.

The shutdown will allow for $66 million worth of updating and expansion. The project will include the renovation of the existing structure, a complete redevelopment of the planetarium theater (including a new state-of-the-art Zeiss star projector), and the addition of 35,000 square feet of new space.

Griffith Observatory, constructed in the 1930s, is a historical Los Angeles landmark with its art deco design. The building has been featured in Hollywood films ranging from Rebel Without A Cause, to The Rocketeer and Bowfinger. Preserving its look is an essential part of the plan says observatory director and Sky & Telescope contributing editor E. C. Krupp. Therefore the expansion will take place entirely underground — beneath the front lawn.

During construction, Griffith Observatory will continue its community outreach program. Three temporary trailer offices will house employees near the Los Angeles Zoo, a location Krupp affectionately calls the "Observatory-in-Exile Site." Telescopes will be available to the public day and night at this remote location.