NASA/Vi Nguyen14th September 2024
Join people from all around the globe on International Observe the Moon Night 2024.
Check out one of our two sessions that suits your group best.
4.00-5.30 pm (Junior Afternoon Session)
Are your kids fascinated by the moon? In this family oriented session: you’ll learn with interactive activities about the different features and phases of the moon and why you can sometimes see the moon in the daytime. Booking close 2pm on 14/9/24 or when sold out
6.30-9.30pm (Night Session)
Want to learn how to identify various features on the Moon? On International Observe the Moon Night 2024, We’ll have telescopes and astronomers present to help you do just that. There will be Moon and stellar object viewing with our telescopes, an astronomical talk and a tour of our historic observatory, followed by supper.
Dress for cold Ballarat Weather as it can be very chilly.
If Cloudy, the event will still go ahead with our virtual night sky program.
Bookings are essential and close at 12pm on 14/9/24 or when sold out.
Activities:
Got your tickets for you and the family but can’t wait to explore the moon? Have a go at one or more of these activites at home.
Track the moon:
Did you know the moon has different shapes called phases? The different phases of the moon happen because on different days we can see different amounts of the daytime and night time sides of the moon. Print off a blank calendar page, and each day draw a picture of the moon and watch how the shape changes over time. You can also note down what time of day you saw the moon and in what direction. What does this tell you about the apparent motion of the moon?
Spy on the moon:
Have you got a pair of binoculars or a telescope laying around at home? Give them a clean and have a look the moon. Count the number of craters you can see.
Tip: craters are best seen on the terminator – the line between the night time and day time side of the moon.
Help NASA as a citizen scientist at MoonDiff
NASA is seeking citizen scientists (that could be you!) to help them work out the rate the moon gets new craters. On MoonDiff you will identify the difference in two images of the moon, check for differences (i.e. new craters) and identify new craters. visit https://trek.nasa.gov/moondiff/ to give it a go!
Take A photo of the Moon
Take your own photo or we can help you take a photo and then send it to you by sms.
Moon Phase Oreos:
At home using Oreos, emulate the different phases of the moon. What are their names? What is the order of the phases that we see from Australia? (Hint: we live in the Southern Hemisphere.) What order would you see from Canada? How about from Indonesia?
How to guide: https://www.nps.gov/teachers/classrooms/moon-phases-with-cookies.htm
Help name a Quasi-Moon:
The International Astronomical Union and RadioLab are holding a naming contest for one of Earth’s Quasi-Moons (asteroid 164207) . Entries close on the 30th of September at 11:59 PM UTC. Voting will happen in October. Link: https://woobox.com/wc2qxd
