July Features Flash of Saturn鈥檚 Rings
The , which opens its doors to the public every third Friday of the month, will focus on Saturn and several astronomical objects Friday, July 21, beginning at 8:30 p.m. and lasting several hours. This summer has featured some of the best views of Saturn鈥檚 rings in nearly 15 years. The rings, a collection of ice and rocks bound together by gravitational forces, tilt 27 degrees to our line of sight, offering a stunning view through 黑料百科鈥檚 powerful Keck Telescope.
The viewing at 黑料百科 occurs in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit, whose members bring their own telescopes to 黑料百科 for public use.
The Keck Telescope, a 24-inch F/8 Cassegrain reflecting instrument with Ritchey-Chretien optics, is housed in the observatory . Free parking is available near the baseball field.