Saturday night is the 12th annual 鈥溾�� (InOMN) and the D.C. area is celebrating with 9 different events. International Observe the Moon Night is sponsored by and the Solar System Exploration Division of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, with support from many partners.
Lunar observers and lovers of the moon worldwide will be looking at the moon and sponsoring moon-watching events in celebration.
As stated on NASA鈥檚 InOMN webpage, the goals of International Observe the Moon Night are to:
- Unite people across the globe in a celebration of lunar observation, science, and exploration.
- Provide information, a platform, and resources in order to:
- Raise awareness of NASA鈥檚 lunar science and exploration programs.
- Empower people to learn more about the Moon and space science and exploration, using Earth鈥檚 Moon as an accessible entry point.
- Facilitate sharing of Moon-inspired stories, images, artwork, and more.
- Inspire continued observation of the Moon, the sky, and the world around us.
In the DMV this year there are . NASA Goddard is hosting virtual events, while the National Air and Space Museum鈥檚 Haas Public Observatory and George Mason University have live InOMN events.听
听at 1:30 p.m. EDT to offer commentary and a view of the moon from Rome.
Also online, at 4 p.m. EDT the Lunar and Planetary Institute on the 鈥淐ool Moon鈥� which will 鈥渟hed light on the mysterious craters of the lunar south pole that hold water-ice and the key to future exploration of the moon, and of the solar system鈥�.
will broadcast from 7:30 to 8:30pm EDT with greetings from people around the world, an ancient Incan story about the moon, a close-up view of the lunar surface as seen through Slooh telescopes in Chile and the Canary Islands, flyovers of lunar features highlighted on this year鈥檚 Moon Map and information about NASA鈥檚 VIPER mission and Artemis program, which plans to send humans to the moon’s South Pole.
Get out and ponder the Moon鈥�humanity is headed back to stay this time.听is being prepared for thewhich will launch NASA鈥檚 , out beyond the Moon on a 3-week flight.
Enjoy the fall night by the moon鈥檚 beautiful light鈥� By the way, that bright 鈥渟tar鈥� to the upper right of the Moon is Jupiter, with the ringed planet Saturn to Jupiter鈥檚 right.
Follow me at Twitter @skyguyinva and my daily blog at 听to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration. You can email me at skyguyinva@gmail.com.听
