Today my nieces and I went to the Griffith Observatory to see the Los Angeles cityscape and gaze at the stars. As the sun set over the Santa Monica Mountains, there were pink and purple streaks in the sky through the light haze of smog and dust. The Hollywood sign disappeared and the waxing moon showed itself in the western sky. Astronomers set up large telescopes on the front lawn so we could get glimpses of the moon and Saturn. It was positively astounding to see ringed planet; I thought it must be a paper cut-out stuck on the lens. Certainly it wasn't visible to the naked eye! To which the astronomer replied, "I know where to find it in the sky." The planetarium show and the educational displays are worth a visit, but, seeing Saturn was extraordinary.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Saturn Through the Looking Glass
Today my nieces and I went to the Griffith Observatory to see the Los Angeles cityscape and gaze at the stars. As the sun set over the Santa Monica Mountains, there were pink and purple streaks in the sky through the light haze of smog and dust. The Hollywood sign disappeared and the waxing moon showed itself in the western sky. Astronomers set up large telescopes on the front lawn so we could get glimpses of the moon and Saturn. It was positively astounding to see ringed planet; I thought it must be a paper cut-out stuck on the lens. Certainly it wasn't visible to the naked eye! To which the astronomer replied, "I know where to find it in the sky." The planetarium show and the educational displays are worth a visit, but, seeing Saturn was extraordinary.
