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Imperial Valley Desert Museum volunteer Ben Benton watches a child view the moon through his telescope he has lent the museum for the stargazing event, Saturday night. (COURTESY BY JESSICA BRODY / January 26, 2013) |
OCOTILLO — The desert’s night sky captivated Valley locals as they learned about astronomy and rediscovered the moon during a stargazing event held at the Imperial Valley Desert Museum here Saturday night.
Despite stormy weather throughout much of the Valley, the sky was clear over the museum with a full moon illuminating the more than 80 attendees.
“This has become one of our big events because it has attracted so many people,” said Jessica Brody, museum curator.
The semi-annual event featured a presentation from astronomy writer and lecturer Dennis Mammana, as well as some several telescopes to view the moon and stars up close.
“This is just an introduction, but it’s a really good way to get people to start appreciating what we have here in the Valley,” Brody said.
The event also held a children’s coloring and coiled clay crafts area in the museum’s library.
“We want to encourage people to think about things in different ways (that) they haven’t thought about before, to just go out on a full moon and see the desert. It is fantastic!” Brody said.
Having heard of the event’s past success, El Centro resident Robin Dodge attended the event with friends to better understand astronomy.
“I wanted the kids to learn more about the moon, more so than say video games and things like that,” Dodge said. “So far it’s been real fantastic and the kids are loving it,” she said.
The museum will hold an additional stargazing event scheduled for May.
For more information on the event visit www.ivdesertmuseum.org
Staff Writer Celeste Alvarez can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at calvarez@ivpressonline.com
To join the discussion and add your comments to this story, please click here to be directed to Facebook.
Despite stormy weather throughout much of the Valley, the sky was clear over the museum with a full moon illuminating the more than 80 attendees.
“This has become one of our big events because it has attracted so many people,” said Jessica Brody, museum curator.
The semi-annual event featured a presentation from astronomy writer and lecturer Dennis Mammana, as well as some several telescopes to view the moon and stars up close.
“This is just an introduction, but it’s a really good way to get people to start appreciating what we have here in the Valley,” Brody said.
The event also held a children’s coloring and coiled clay crafts area in the museum’s library.
“We want to encourage people to think about things in different ways (that) they haven’t thought about before, to just go out on a full moon and see the desert. It is fantastic!” Brody said.
Having heard of the event’s past success, El Centro resident Robin Dodge attended the event with friends to better understand astronomy.
“I wanted the kids to learn more about the moon, more so than say video games and things like that,” Dodge said. “So far it’s been real fantastic and the kids are loving it,” she said.
The museum will hold an additional stargazing event scheduled for May.
For more information on the event visit www.ivdesertmuseum.org
Staff Writer Celeste Alvarez can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at calvarez@ivpressonline.com
To join the discussion and add your comments to this story, please click here to be directed to Facebook.
