Stellar View: Look to the Skies for Peak Visibility of Saturn

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.

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.