Saturday night, September 18, will mark the first annual International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN). This event, originated by NASA, is for people who are curious about our satellite and would like to find out more about it.
On August 1, 2009, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Education and Public Outreach (EPO) team hosted a public outreach event called “We’re at the Moon!” at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland. That same night, the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite and NASA Lunar Science Institute EPO teams hosted a similar event at Ames Research Center (ARC) in Moffett Field, California, called “National Observe the Moon Night.” Both events were part of the International Year of Astronomy.
NASA’s goal was to engage the public and amateur astronomers in an event to raise awareness of lunar research and exploration. The events were so successful that NASA has decided to do it again, only bigger and better. This year, the agency has expanded events to include four partner institutions: GSFC, ARC, the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, and the Lunar Quest EPO Office at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
But it’s not stopping there. NASA would like to encourage everyone interested in the Moon who can share the excitement of lunar science and exploration to host their own InOMN event. For the information, materials, and activities you needto host your own InOMN event, accompanied by a step-by-step guide, visit http://www.observethemoonnight.org/.
I’ll be in Pasadena, California, attending the Pacific Astronomy Telescope Show, this Saturday, but that won’t stop me. In fact, I’m helping host an event with members of the Astronomy Outreach Foundation, a new non-profit group made up of astronomy manufacturers, and of which Astronomy magazine is a founding member.
The write-up about the event I’m attending says, “Enjoy views of the Moon and more through dozens of telescopes on Saturday, September 18, at Paseo Colorado in beautiful Pasadena, California, from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. This International Observe the Moon Night event is sponsored by the Astronomy Outreach Foundation, the organizers of the Pacific Astronomy Telescope Show (PATS), and Paseo Colorado Pasadena. What a perfect evening for the whole family, and it’s totally free!”
If you live in the area, even if you can’t make the PATS show, I encourage you to take advantage of the telescopes and of expertise that will be set up Saturday night. C’mon out, say hi, and learn about the Moon. I look forward to meeting you.