When the Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn takes its historic portrait of Earth on 19 July* the world will be watching. Join Astronomers Without Borders in showing Saturn to as many people as possible.
Do you remember the feeling you had the first time you saw the ringed planet through a telescope? Give others the same experience during this historic event! Create an event and take your telescope out with friends, family, or your local astronomy club. Even if you don't have a telescope you can still point Saturn out in the sky share what's happening and what you know about this amazing planet and the big event taking place.
Register your event so others know where to find you, and earn a personalized participation certificate to download and share when your event is over. Share your event photos and stories with others through a blog on the AWB site (members only).
It's all about sharing!
Have visitors take their pictures with Saturn, the "star" of the event. Project a live image Saturn on a wall from a telescope if you can. Project a photo of Saturn from a computer. Print a photo and tape it up. Make a banner of Saturn. Make a cut-out, a foam Saturn, or a CD Saturn. Be creative! Create a "Photo Booth" for photos of your visitors with Saturn as a souvenir of this historic event. Submit your photo to be a part of the Saturn Mosaic Project.
What: Show Saturn to everyone when the Cassini spacecraft is looking back at Earth.
When: 19 or 20 July, depending on where you are (see Time details below). If it's not a good night then hold your event when you can. Try to make it close to that time so it's related to the new picture of Earth that Cassini will be taking. But the most important thing is to show Saturn whenever you can!
Where: Saturn! See some finder charts from JPL to locate Saturn in your sky.
Time details: Cassini will take phhotos over a four-hour period to get enough to create a complete mosaic of Saturn, Saturn's rings, and Earth. Earth will be captured in a series of photos from 21:27 to 21:42 UT on July 19*.
These times account for the time it takes for light to travel from Earth to Saturn. The light that leaves Earth at that time will reach Cassini's cameras when they take the photos. More details are avaiable from CICLOPS.
Convert the UT time given above to your time zone. Click the first drop-down box and choose "UTC/GMT". Then choose your location under "Select places to convert to".
Resources:
An Observing Guide to Saturn from Sky and Telescope Magazine
Saturn's Moon's Javascript Utility from Sky and Telescope Magazine to identify Saturn's moons at the time you're observing
Saturn in Your Kitchen and Backyard and Cassini Kids Space from NASA for teachers and outreach programs.
*19 July UTC but 20 July local time in some parts of the world.
