Photo by AlfRibeiro via Adobe Stock.
Celebrate International Observe the Moon Night with CLAS
The moon will be waxing toward its full on Saturday as the UF Department of Astronomy invites the public to celebrate International Observe the Moon Night in partnership with the Astronomy and Astrophysics Society and community partners.
The Sept. 14 event will take place at the Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center, 10 miles south of campus in Micanopy. The event promises a fun and educational experience for lunar enthusiasts of all levels, from students to families.
International Observe the Moon Night is an annual event organized by NASA that aims to bring people together with a shared love for astronomy. It began as a U.S.-based event during the International Year of Astronomy in 2009 but has since grown to a worldwide phenomenon, with over 2,100 public and private moon viewing events across dozens of countries, according to NASA’s event map.
This year will mark UF’s first participation in the event. Organizers are making sure that it will be one to remember. While everyone will get a chance to simply look up to gaze at the moon, the Astronomy Department also plans to set up several telescopes around the park, allowing attendees to observe the moon in much greater detail.
UF Assistant Professor of Geology Stephen Elardo will also speak about lunar science, for those interested in learning more about astronomy in general. Many other activities and games are planned, and a pair of food trucks will be available in case anyone gets hungry.
The free event will last from 6 to 10 p.m. Guests are welcome to come and go as they please throughout the evening. Parking is $5 per car. The number of parking spots will be limited, so attendees are encouraged to carpool if possible.
