Community Corner

Cheap Thrill: Look to the Skies for Peak Visibility of Saturn

While you're taking pictures of the planet, "the planet" will be taking pictures of you. Where and when to watch.

Need a cheap date Friday night? Just head for somewhere dark, look to the skies, and you may see Saturn’s rings vividly for the first time since 2006.

Saturn, of course, is the most recognizable of the planets out there, its 3D-ish appearance making it, in the eyes of many, the jewel of the solar system.

NASA has some great photos and video of Saturn, but it’s the alignment of the planets and the sun that should make for a great live show -- and a photo opportunity that won’t come around again for years. The reason: Saturn’s entire system will be backlit by the sun.

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And if you do take pictures, know this: NASA will be taking your picture, too -- sort of.  NASA’s Cassini spacecraft will be taking photos of Earth as it looks from Saturn.

As usual for celestial shows, your best viewing will be from a dark area unobscured by light pollution. Since most of the parks in Burke close at dusk,  your best bets to view the show could be from the parking lots of one of the many shopping centers in Burke such as: Burke Centre Shopping Center, Burke Centre Town Plaza, Kings Park Shopping Center and the Burke Town Plaza.

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As of now, viewing should be great, with a forecast of mostly clear skies in Burke.


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