STARRY, STARRY NIGHT GALA CELEBRATES RETURN OF ICONIC OBSERVATORY.

Byline: DANA BARTHOLOMEW Staff Writer

Stars gazed upon stars Sunday at a Galactic Gala at Griffith Observatory to herald this week's reopening of one of Los Angeles' most prominent landmarks.

Hollywood celebrities, city officials and supporters of the $93 million makeover sailed across a heavenly blue carpet to hail the observatory's public launch on Friday.

``We've been waiting five years and are really excited to be here tonight,'' said Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock on the epic ``Star Trek'' series and donated $1 million toward a 200-seat theater built in his name.

``Millions of people will come through in the next few years,'' Nimoy said. ``Thousands of children will come here who will be excited about space. It's a great thing for the mind.''

Elegantly dressed VIPs -- from Buzz Aldrin, the second human to set foot on the moon, to actress Angela Bassett -- were awed by the refurbished observatory that shone atop Mount Hollywood like a beacon to the cosmos.

Built in 1935 as a gift to Los Angeles by Griffith J. Griffith, the art deco observatory has become one of the city's most cherished icons.

Now after four years of meticulous restoration, what has been dubbed ``the hood ornament of Los Angeles'' will reopen its doors to the public on Friday.

``To all the people of Los Angeles: One of the greatest buildings in the world is coming online,'' said Councilman Tom LaBonge, a big observatory booster parading among the stars.

``This is the greatest spot in the whole universe.''

``It is without question another example of what L.A. is about -- an opportunity to look at the stars, to reach for the stars,'' added Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Outside, the historic observatory gleamed in ivory, its bronze solar and planetary telescopes guarding its green rotunda and copper planetarium dome.

A terrace now surrounds the observatory -- home to 2 million visitors a year before it closed for renovations -- offering the best views of Los Angeles. An outdoor transit marks the seasonal path of the sun.

Inside, the 40,000-square-foot observatory is now twice its former size with a new planetarium, theater, cafe, classroom, book store and more than 60 stellar exhibits.

But with less than 200 parking spaces and a crush of expected visitors, the observatory will allow no drive-in access for the first few months. Instead, visitors must make advance timed reservations to shuttle up the hill for a fee.

Hikers and cyclists can visit free with a 48-hour advance reservation.

At Sunday's gala, special guests sashayed toward the bust of James Dean, with views of the Hollywood sign and a glorious sunset over the Pacific. The party, hosted by Friends of the Observatory and organized by the Los Angeles Sports Entertainment Commission, included such local celebrities as James Spader, Courtney B. Vance, Lucy Lawless, Art Linkletter and Stefanie Powers.

``I adore this place,'' said Powers, who visited the observatory as a child. ``It has all the grace and elegance of the age in which it was constructed -- it was the Golden Age of Hollywood.''

But it was Aldrin who commanded the interstellar buzz at the galactic celebration.

``We've been coming to the Griffith Observatory for 35 years,'' the astronaut said, gazing at the moon above the planetary dome. ``This is the place to come for L.A. night life.''

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

[phone]

IF YOU GO:

For Griffith Observatory reservations, see www.GriffithObservatory.org, call [phone] or go to the Griffith Observatory Satellite, 4800 Western Heritage Way at the Los Angeles Zoo. Shuttles will leave from the satellite-L.A. zoo parking lot, or from the Hollywood & Highland Center at North Orange Drive and Orange Court north of Hollywood Boulevard.

CAPTION(S):

18 photos, 2 boxes, map

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) The Griffith Observatory is bathed in stars projected on its facade Sunday night during the climax of the Galactic Gala, where stars of the earthbound variety turned out to celebrate the center's reopening. Below, Leonard Nimoy and his wife, Susan Bay, arrive at the gala.

(3) Guests walk around a monument in front of the Griffith Observatory at Sunday's Galactic Gala celebrating its reopening.

(4) Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, and his wife, Lois, arrive at the Galactic Gala at the Griffith Observatory.

(5 -- 6) Above, Shirley Jones and Marty Ingels arrive at Sunday's Galactic Gala. Below, Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen arrives at the celebration.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

(7 -- color) Since opening in 1935, the observatory has been a unique landmark in the Southern California landscape.

(8 -- color) Zeiss refracting telescope

(9 -- color) Subterranean space

(10 -- color) Shown above, mural located opposite the main entrance are a group of astronomers from difference ages.

(11 -- color) Aerial of construction, 1933.

(12 -- color) Nearing completion, late 1934.

(13 -- color) Hall of Science meteor exhibit.

(14 -- color) The bronze bust of James Dean was created by artist Keneth Kendall.

(15 -- color) New 23.5 meter Zeiss Mark IX laser fiberoptic star projector.

(16 -- color) Six artists actually created the monument located on the front lawn of the observatory.

(17 -- color) Foucault Pendulum

(18 -- color) Tesla Coil

Box:

(1) IF YOU GO (see text)

(2) OBSERVING `GRIFFITH'

Sources: Griffith Observatory, Friends of the Observatory, L.A. Dept. of Recreation and Parks, L.A. Dept. of Public Works, Griffith Park, A Centennial History, Pfeiffer Partners, Levin & Associates Architects and C&G Partners

Daily News graphics and page design by Warren Huskey/Staff Artist

Map:

Griffith Observatory