Have you ever wanted to see the man on the moon?
You may get your chance this weekend. The University of Central Florida Planetary Sciences Group is offering an opportunity to take a close look at the moon on Saturday, Oct. 12, as part of International Observe the Moon Night.
From 6 to 9 p.m., students and faculty members will have several telescopes available to the public for free so that they can get a close look at the moon. The event, at Knights Plaza near the CFE Arena on the main campus, is open to adults and children.
“We’re eager to share with the public the wonder of the moon. People see it all the time, but they hardly ever get to check it out in detail,” said associate professor Yan Fernandez. “We’ll be there to tell people what they are looking at – craters, mountains, lava plains, where the Apollo landings were, that sort of thing.”
Despite nearby interfering light, there should be ample opportunity to see the moon and perhaps the planet Venus, weather permitting, Fernandez said.
The event is free and open to the public. Parking fees apply. To get live updates, especially if the weather is questionable, look for the UCF Robinson Observatory on Facebook.
Hundreds of groups, from national observatories to libraries around the world will be holding similar events the same night, according to the international group’s website. The group consists of scientists, educators, and Moon enthusiasts from government, nonprofit organizations, and businesses throughout the United States and across the globe.
According to the website, the goal of the members is to “create the opportunity for people to take notice of the Moon’s beauty and share that experience with one another. Through International Observe the Moon Night, we hope to instill in the public a sense of wonderment and curiosity about our moon.”
For more information, email planets@physics.ucf.edu.