Public Viewing to Zoom in on Saturn
°µÍø±¬ÁÏapp’s powerful Keck Telescope will aim for the rings of Saturn and several globular clusters during a free, public viewing Friday, Sept. 15, beginning about 7:30 p.m. and lasting several hours. The best viewing generally occurs later in the evening.
Though Saturn will only be 30 degrees above the southern horizon, viewing will be aided by a lack of light from the moon, which sets at 4:11 p.m.
The observatory opens its doors to the public every third Friday of the month in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit, whose members bring their own telescopes to °µÍø±¬ÁÏapp for the public to gaze through.
The Keck Telescope, a 24-inch F/8 Cassegrain reflecting instrument with Ritchey-Chretien optics, is housed in the between Russell Carr Field and the track and field/soccer complex. Free parking is available near the baseball field.