When it comes to the magic of spring, make space for Griffith Observatory

Springtime belongs to gorgeous flowers, and blooming trees, and buzzing insects, and soft sunbeams, and all of the gentler sights and bewitching scents you might find in a volume of poetry.

But let us acknowledge, too, that the vernal equinox is very much a double act involving the sun and the moon, two faraway favorites that a certain earthbound icon has a firm and fascinating handle on.

That’s Griffith Observatory, of course, a building that sits quite far from both our lunar bestie and nearest star, physically, but in spirit? Heading up the hill to the astronomy-centric spot is like paying a visit to those places in outer space we’ll never get to, or don’t expect to, anyway.

The observatory, which recently marked its 90th anniversary, offers free programs at the start of each season, all to give visitors a chance to know more about when days and nights are of equal length — as they are when spring starts here in the Northern Hemisphere — and other equinox- and solstice-based facts.

Even if you can’t check out one of the pay-nothing programs at the observatory, you can make time to visit, for free, on any day but Monday. Inside the celebrated Art Deco structure are all sorts of sun- and moon- and planet-based knowledge, including the wowza facts that broaden our understanding of the seasons.

Yes, we said and we meant “wowza”: The processes of the seasons are wrapped up in eons-old rites occurring well beyond our earthly plane, something we should all be agog over, all the time.

And if you need more opportunities to get agog, a free Public Star Party will glimmer on the grounds of Griffith Observatory on the last Saturday in March.

Several astronomers and astronomy groups will be out on March 28 with telescopes in tow, so show with all of your universe-focused inquiries and a penchant for peering thousands of miles across vast galactic distances.

Other wonderful and wonder-filled happenings are just ahead at the dome-tastic destination, with Yuri’s Night Los Angeles and the monthly All Space Considered coming up in April.

Flowers, you are the stars of the spring, for sure, but so is our #1 star, the sun, so we hope you’re comfortable with sharing the seasonal stage as spring begins March 20.

Happy springtime to flower lovers and moon mavens and sun enthusiasts and all people who do adore a longer and brighter day.