The historic Griffith Observatory in the hills above Los Angeles planned a viewing party Thursday for the partial lunar eclipse, but Southern California’s wild weather — extremely hot temperatures combined with clouds — prompted officials to cancel the event.
Many showed up anyway. You can just walk up the road to the observatory grounds in Griffith Park — and the sun and moon played their part, with 96% of the moon’s visible surface obscured at the eclipse’s peak as the earth positioned itself between its crater-covered satellite and the star at the center of our solar system.
Luckily the clouds also cooperated, and those staring up at the heavens were treated to a rare and reddish blood moon.
Clouds almost interfered as news photographer Jason Armond takes photos during the partial lunar blood moon eclipse at Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. It was the last lunar eclipse until New Year’s Eve 2028. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors to Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles use a spotting scope to look at the partial lunar eclipse as a beam of light from Hollywood aims at the moon on Thursday, Aug .27, 2026. This will be the last lunar eclipse to happen until New Year’s Eve 2028. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
Clouds due to Southern California’s warm and wild weather almost interfered as a partial lunar eclipse peaks at Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
Clouds due to Southern California’s warm and wild weather almost interfered as a partial lunar eclipse peaks at Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
Clouds due to Southern California’s warm and wild weather almost interfered as a partial lunar eclipse peaks at Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
A spotlight in Hollywood is aimed at the moon Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, during a partial lunar blood moon eclipse at Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
Clouds due to Southern California’s warm and wild weather almost interfered as a partial lunar eclipse peaks at Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
Griffith Observatory Director Dr. E.C. Krupp, right, talks to the media about the partial lunar eclipse on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Viewing of the eclipse was threatened by clouds during Southern California’s heat wave. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
Viewing of the eclipse on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at Griffith Observatory was threatened by clouds during Southern California’s heat wave. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
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Clouds almost interfered as news photographer Jason Armond takes photos during the partial lunar blood moon eclipse at Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. It was the last lunar eclipse until New Year’s Eve 2028. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
