View the rings of Saturn via Griffith Observatory’s telescopes

Get a close-up look at Saturn and its spectacular rings this weekend, and you won’t need special eclipse glasses to see them. Telescopes at the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park will be pointed at Saturn because it’s one of the brightest things in the night sky at the moment.

“Mars and Saturn are nearly twins in brightness this week,” the observatory’s Sky Report says. Saturn also made news this week after the Cassini spacecraft found evidence of large methane lakes on its moon Titan. (Whoa! Saturn has more than 60 moons -- and counting.)

For sky-gazing fans, the observatory is expanding its hours for summer and will open Tuesdays starting next week through Sept. 4. (It’s usually closed Mondays and Tuesdays.) Telescope viewing of the sun by day and the moon and planets on clear nights is free.

The next star party, where astronomers set up extra telescopes in the foreground of the observatory, will be 2-9:45 p.m. on June 23. Admission is free and open to all.