Stargazing Returns October 17 Fall Into the Stars

Westmont’s powerful Keck Telescope zooms in on the rings of Saturn on Friday, Oct. 17, beginning about 7 p.m. and lasting several hours at the Westmont Observatory. Westmont hosts a stargazing event the third Friday of each month in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit, whose members bring telescopes to share.

“Saturn will be visible earlier in the evening this month, closer to 7:30 p.m.,” says Jennifer Gee, assistant professor of physics and director of the observatory. “We'll also be able to see my favorite, the Owl Cluster, as well as other star clusters such as the Great Star Cluster in Hercules and the Pegasus Cluster.”

Physics professor emeritus Ken Kihlstrom will also be in attendance greeting alumni who’ve returned to campus for Homecoming.

Free parking is available near the observatory, which is between the baseball field and the track and field/soccer complex. In case of cloudy weather, please call the Telescope Viewing Hotline at (805) 565-6272 and check the observatory website to see if the viewing has been canceled.