International Observe the Moon Night

On Saturday, September the 18th we invite you to join us at MOSI as we turn our eyes towards the heavens and a waxing gibbous moon on International Observe the Moon Night.

This is the second annual event of this name that celebrates exploration and observation of the moon. Started last year in celebration of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), International Observe the Moon Night brings an international community together for a single night of moon observation.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) orbits just 50km above the surface of the moon. This robotic spacecraft is engaged in a 3D mapping mission that will help NASA identify potential moon landing sites for upcoming missions and locate formerly unknown resources on the lunar surface. The LRO has also brought us some of the first photographs of Apollo equipment that was left on the lunar surface.

Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) was intentionally crashed into the Cabeus crater on the lunar surface near the moon’s south pole on October 9, 2009. The Centaur module of the LCROSS impacted the lunar surface and the Shepherding Spacecraft fallowed four minutes behind to analyze the plume of debris shot upward by the impact. LCROSS achieved its objective and discovered proof of water ice on the moon

This year MOSI is hosting an official International Observe the Moon Night event that will begin at 7:30pm on September the 18th. We will have binoculars and telescopes available for lunar observation, talks by lunar experts, activities and a show in the Saunder’s Planetarium.

Program fee: $12 per person
MOSI member: $9 per person
Call (813) 987-6000 to register; advance reservations are recommended. Limited seating is available for the lunar shows in The Saunder’s Planetarium.

Volunteer of the Month: Jill Staake

Jill Staake has been volunteering with MOSI Outside since August 2009 and has devoted 250 hours to the BioWorks Butterfly Garden and Richard T. Bowers Historic Tree Grove. A skilled gardener and budding butterfly expert, Jill is a fantastic volunteer who is always ready to answer guest questions about the gardens.

Jill is the author of a blog about gardening in Tampa Bay entitled My Florida Backyard and has worked hard to create her yard as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. Jill is also a contributor to the BioWorks Butterfly Garden blog and recently created a post about a day in the life of a MOSI Outside volunteer entitled Perspiration and Inspiration. Look for Jill in the gardens on Tuesdays and Fridays.