The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Winter events planned at Observatory Park
Geauga Park District’s Observatory Park is open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. in Montville Township, and there are special programs planned throughout the winter.
Observatory Park’s historic Nassau Astronomical Station at 10350 Clay St., which finally reopened in August for night sky viewing through one of the largest public telescopes in the state, will host Nassau Night Sky Viewings on the following Saturday nights — Jan. 13 and 27, Feb. 10, 17 and 24, and March 10 and 24.
The events will take place 7 to 11 p.m., and if conditions aren’t favorable, attendees can enjoy a planetarium show instead at the Robert McCullough Science Center.
Back at the main campus at 10610 Clay St., there will be full moon programs from 7 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 2, The Wolf Moon; and March 1, The Worm Moon.
There will be a partial lunar eclipse at the end of January and attendees can use park telescopes for an early-morning glimpse of Earth’s shadow darkening the “blue moon” from 6:30 to 8 a.m. on Jan. 31. Cloudy skies will cancel this program; call the Observatory Park hotline, 440-279-0820, for notice.
From 3 to 5 p.m., Feb. 24, park experts will hold “Bring In Your Telescope” to help attendees get the most enjoyable astronomy experience out of their equipment and offer a few maintenance tips.
Meanwhile, “Full Moon Rising” Glass Painting Workshop will take place 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., March 30, allowing participants to paint a rising moon motif on a set of two drinking glasses, which may be used as candle holders. It will be led by Jeannie Carder Shimek from Artifacts Gift Studio, and a $30 fee covers all materials and refreshments including non-alcoholic beverages; participants may also bring their own beverage of choice.
Scouting opportunities return to Observatory Park on Jan. 27 — “Wolf Cub Scout Paws on the Path” from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and “Cadette Girl Scouts Night Owl Badge” from 6 to 8 p.m. and Feb. 10 — “Bear Cub Scouts Fur, Feathers & Ferns Core Adventure” from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and “Senior & Ambassador Girl Scouts Astronomy Night” from 6 to 8 p.m.
Hands-on astronomy education will be offered during hour-long programs 7 to 8 p.m. on these Fridays — Jan. 12 and 26 “Plants in Space,” Feb. 9 and 23 “Mapping the Milky Way,” and March 9 and 23 “Weather Satellites & How To Use Them,” followed by night sky until 11 p.m. if weather permits.
And finally, Naturalist Chris Mentreks will open the Robert McCullough Science Center and Oberle Observatory from 1 to 4 p.m. on the following Sundays — Jan. 14 and 28, Feb. 11 and 25, and March 11 and 25, all featuring at 2 p.m. The Sky Tonight Planetarium Shows.
Registration is required for the scouting programs and glass painting workshop at www.geaugaparkdistrict.org or 440-2869516. Learn more about Observatory Park online at http://bit.ly/gpdop.