Milky Way Galaxy Plus Saturn Equals Magical Night for Stargazer (Photos)

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By Nina Sen
published

Frosty Drew Milky Way
This image of the Milky Way was taken by amateur astronomer Scott MacNeill from Frosty Drew Observatory in Charlestown, Rhode Island. (Image credit: Frosty Drew | Scott MacNeill)

A night of stargazing in Rhode Island proved to be quite magical for one night sky photographer.

Astrophotographer Scott MacNeill of Frosty Drew Observatory in Charlestown, Rhode Island, captured these images of the bright Sagittarius Arms and galactic center of the Milky Way on May 3.

"After a stretch of cloudy nights, skies cleared at just the right time to catch the return of the summer Milky Way to our skies," MacNeill wrote in an email to Space.com. "We had some haze overhead and some minimal air-glow though the skies were to die for." [Amazing Night Sky Photos (May 2014)]

This image of Saturn was taken from Frosty Drew Observatory in Charlestown, Rhode Island by amateur astronomer Scott MacNeill. (Image credit: Scott MacNeill www.frostydrew.org )

Uncle Milton Solar System In My Room. Buy Here (Image credit: Space.com Store)

The same day he was able to capture the observatory's first view of Saturn for the 2014 observing season. The image showcases the increased axial tilt of the planet with a defined Cassini Division. The Cassini Division is the large gap between the two most prominent of Saturn's rings — Rings B and A — caused by the gravitational pull of the moon Mimas.

To see more amazing night sky photos submitted by Space.com readers, visit our astrophotography archive.

Editor's note: If you have an amazing night sky photo you'd like to share for a possible story or image gallery, please contact managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.

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Nina Sen
Contributing Writer and Producer

Nina Sen is a freelance writer and producer who covered night sky photography and astronomy for Space.com. She began writing and producing content for Space.com in 2011 with a focus on story and image production, as well as amazing space photos captured by NASA telescopes and other missions. Her work also includes coverage of amazing images by astrophotographers that showcase the night sky's beauty.