09/08/2026
On this 60th anniversary of the premiere of the original Star Trek, we’re honoring the legacy of not only this seminal science fiction franchise but also one of Griffith Observatory’s dearest friends and greatest champions, Leonard Nimoy.
While Leonard is best known as Mr. Spock, he and his wife Susan Bay Nimoy are best known at Griffith Observatory for their generosity and commitment to public astronomy and education.
Without the Nimoys, Griffith Observatory would not be what it is today. When the Observatory undertook a major renovation and expansion in 2002, the Nimoys were the first individual donors to contribute a major gift and helped make the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theater a reality.
After reopening in 2006, the theater transformed the Observatory’s programming and education capabilities and continues to anchor public and school events, live demonstrations, and more. Every day, you’ll find audiences watching The Once and Future Griffith Observatory—the free film that introduces visitors to the Observatory’s history, narrated by Leonard—in the very theater that bears his name.
Here’s to Leonard, Star Trek, and the endless curiosity of the final frontier. Live long and prosper. 🖖
