On the evening of Thursday, October 17, the largest supermoon of the year will rise over the eastern horizon for skywatchers in the region. The Cincinnati Observatory is holding a “Supermoon Rising” event to celebrate, including talks on lunar exploration, an expressive arts showcase inspired by the Moon, and night sky viewing if the weather allows. Rain or shine, participants will be able to celebrate our nearest celestial neighbor in a variety of unique ways.
“Sometimes we neglect how truly beautiful the Moon is to view, especially with a telescope. Despite being an astronomer for nearly two decades, it’s still my favorite object to view,” states Dr. Wes Ryle, astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory. “This event will also showcase how inspiring the Moon and stars can be, with musical performances and open mic opportunities to enjoy.”
The observatory is collaborating with the Originary Arts Initiative to make this event a unique experience that combines the arts and sciences. The evening will feature musical performances by the folk band Tangled Roots, composed of local artists Sherry Cook Stanforth, Jody Knoop, and Mike Boerschig. Participants will also be able to showcase their expressive works via open mic opportunities throughout the evening. Both the music and open mic sessions will be drawing their inspiration from the Moon, Sun, and stars.
The event will also feature presentations on past and future lunar exploration, including NASA’s anticipated crewed flight around the Moon, Artemis 2, scheduled for next year. For children and families, the evening will include crafts and games related to the Moon.
Supermoon Rising will run from 6-9 p.m. on the evening of Thursday, October 17 on the grounds of the Cincinnati Observatory. Admission is $12 for adults and $7 for children or observatory members. Pre-registration is available at www.cincinnatiobservatory.org or participants can pay at the door.
Supermoon is the popular term for when a full Moon occurs near the time when the Moon is nearest to the Earth, also known as perigee. The closer proximity of the Moon to the Earth makes it marginally larger and brighter in the sky, though the effect is subtle. There are four supermoons in a row in 2024, with the first having occurred in August and the last in November. The October supermoon is the closest, with the Moon reaching a distance of about 222,000 miles at the time of full moon.
The Cincinnati Observatory is known as ‘The Birthplace of American Astronomy.’ It houses one of the oldest working telescopes in the world and was the first public observatory in the western hemisphere. Visit www.cincinnatiobservatory.org for more details.
Cincinnati Observatory