The Astronomers of Verde Valley host viewing 

A blue supermoon rises over the Verde Valley on Aug. 30, 2023. The Astronomers of Verde Valley will host a free public moon observation event in Old Town Cottonwood on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 7 to 10 p.m. Daulton Venglar/Larson Newspapers

The Astronomers of Verde Valley will host a free public moon observation event in Old Town Cottonwood in collaboration with the city of Cottonwood’s Dark Sky Committee on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 7 to 10 p.m. The event will take place at 828 North Main Street in the parking lot for the old council chambers. 

“This is the first time we’re doing it here in Cottonwood,” Astronomers of the Verde Valley president Richard Bohner said. “The moon is our closest neighbor, and it’s easily observable. Even with binoculars, you can see quite a few details. But we’ll have several telescopes set up where the public can look through and get a closer look at the moon.” 

The event is a part of International Observe the Moon Night that “occurs annually in September or October, when the moon is around first quarter ― a great phase for evening observing,” according to NASA’s website. “A first-quarter moon offers excellent viewing opportunities along the terminator, the line between night and day, where shadows enhance the moon’s cratered landscape.” 

“We have a couple of handouts to give out, and we’ll talk to people as they look we do not see the far side. It’s not the dark side, it’s the far side, because the other side of the moon does get illuminated, but we just can’t see it. And the moon is moving away from the earth … and in about 50 million years, the moon will take 47 days to go around the earth, instead of 27.”

Bohner said that watching a lunar eclipse in Jerome in 2015 and its deep hues of orange was one of his favorite moments of lunar observation. 

“This has been happening for millions of years, and we get to see it, too, and it will go on for millions of years,” he said. “Nature is there, if you only look.” 

The Astronomers of the Verde Valley will have another free community star party on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Yavapai College Clarkdale Campus from 7 to 10 p.m. on the wine center patio.  

Joseph K Giddens

Joseph K. Giddens grew up in southern Arizona and studied natural resources at the University of Arizona. He later joined the National Park Service in many different roles focusing on geoscience throughout the West. Drawn to deep time and ancient landscapes he’s worked at: Dinosaur National Monument, Petrified Forest National Park, Badlands National Park and Saguaro National Park among several other public land sites. Prior to joining Sedona Red Rock News, he worked for several Tucson outlets as well as the Williams-Grand Canyon News and the Navajo-Hopi Observer. He frequently is reading historic issues of the Tombstone Epithet newspaper and daydreaming about rockhounding. Contact him at jgiddens@larsonnewspapers.com or (928) 282-7795 ext. 122.

Previous articleSmall plane crashes into Verde Village home outside Cottonwood
Next articleEvents aim to reduce, prevent fall injuries 
Joseph K. Giddens grew up in southern Arizona and studied natural resources at the University of Arizona. He later joined the National Park Service in many different roles focusing on geoscience throughout the West. Drawn to deep time and ancient landscapes he’s worked at: Dinosaur National Monument, Petrified Forest National Park, Badlands National Park and Saguaro National Park among several other public land sites. Prior to joining Sedona Red Rock News, he worked for several Tucson outlets as well as the Williams-Grand Canyon News and the Navajo-Hopi Observer. He frequently is reading historic issues of the Tombstone Epithet newspaper and daydreaming about rockhounding. Contact him at jgiddens@larsonnewspapers.com or (928) 282-7795 ext. 122.
Exit mobile version