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.