Sonoma Valley’s Robert Ferguson Observatory to host ‘Moon Focus Night’

The Robert Ferguson Observatory in Kenwood will mark this weekend’s International Observe the Moon Night  with a special “Moon Focus Night,” providing guests an opportunity to find out about Earth’s closest interstellar neighbor and examine it via telescopes.

The annual worldwide occasion on Saturday, Oct. 4, first organized in 2010, is led by NASA and celebrates the moon’s function in science and tradition. Each 12 months, greater than 500 “Observe the Moon” packages are held in over 40 nations, from observatories and universities to varsities and libraries.

“This is a really fun event because many of our other events are purposely scheduled on new moon nights, which are darker, in order to see more deep space astronomical objects,” stated Stephanie Derammelaere, govt director of the observatory. “But we also love showcasing our nearest neighbor, and it is truly thrilling (for visitors) to see the moon for the first time through a telescope.”

The observatory’s program begins at 7 p.m. with a presentation on lunar options equivalent to craters, lava flows, riles and scarps. Ticket prices are $50 for adults, $45 for seniors and $40 for observatory members.

Attendees may even learn the way the moon impacts each day life on earth by controlling tides, in addition to the science behind lunar phases and eclipses. Telescope viewings will comply with.

Located in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, the Robert Ferguson Observatory is run by the Valley of the Moon Observatory Association, a nonprofit that has supplied astronomy outreach for practically 30 years.

The web site can also be residence to the biggest publicly-accessible telescope in Northern California — a 40-inch reflector, together with a research-grade robotic 20-inch telescope and an eight-inch refractor.

To study extra concerning the observatory and this system, visit