A waxing gibbous moon was pictured above the Earth’s limb as the International Space Station orbited over the southern Indian Ocean just southwest of the African continent. Courtesy/NASANMMSH News:
ALAMOGORDO ― Once a year, everyone on Earth is invited to join together and learn about our planet’s nearest neighbor, the Moon.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History, in conjunction with NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night, will be hosting Moon Over the Museum Friday, Oct. 4.
This free event starts at 6:30 p.m. inside the New Horizons Theater with the short film “Moon Bloopers,” a compilation of astronaut antics on the Moon. At 7 p.m., everyone is invited to join museum educators and local amateur astronomers in the parking lot just above the New Horizons Theater where several telescopes will be set up.
In addition to viewing the Moon, which will be in its first quarter phase, several planets should be visible including Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and possibly Mercury. The event is weather permitting.
Parking for the event will be in the large parking lot just beneath the main museum building. Handicapped parking will be available immediately around the New Horizons building. Visitors are reminded that white light such as flashlights, cell phones, etc. are prohibited in the viewing area. Red lights or flashlights with clear red covers over the lenses are recommended.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575.437.2840 or toll free 1.877.333.6589 or visit the website at www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at: www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/