{"id":103206,"date":"2019-09-30T10:07:42","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T14:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=103206"},"modified":"2024-04-16T16:51:19","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T20:51:19","slug":"ucf-celebrates-international-observe-the-moon-night-with-public-viewing-on-knights-plaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-celebrates-international-observe-the-moon-night-with-public-viewing-on-knights-plaza\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Celebrates International Observe the Moon Night with Public Viewing on Knights Plaza"},"content":{"rendered":"

Telescopes will be set up along Knights Plaza from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, giving the community a chance to peer at the moon and night sky.<\/p>\n

The free event culminates a week of activities at UCF leading to the celebration of International Observe the Moon Night. Across the world, organizations big and small are providing similar opportunities to view space.<\/p>\n

Faculty and students from UCF\u2019s Robinson Observatory, UCF Libraries, the Department of Physics and the Astronomy Society will be on site to help attendees with the telescopes, identify what they see through the lens, and share their passion for space science and research. Not only will visitors get a zoomed-in view of the moon, but they can sneak a peek at Saturn\u2019s rings and the moons of Jupiter.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal of the international celebration is to share the wonder of astronomy with youngsters and potentially inspire a new generation of space explorers with STEM degrees,\u201d said Yan Fernandez, a UCF physics professor and director of the Robinson Observatory on campus.<\/p>\n

Physics Assistant Professor Adrienne Dove says the night is one of her favorites.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach year our moon night gets better and better,\u201d she says. \u201cFor the past few years we\u2019ve partnered with UCF Libraries to expand our outreach with cool hands-on activities and lectures. Our Lunar Knights club and Students for the Exploration and Development of Space group participate, too. Our goal through all these activities and the amazing night of moon viewing is to raise awareness about space sciences and to inspire students and the community to pursue and support science.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among this week\u2019s free activities at the library:<\/p>\n