International Observe The Moon Night Virtual Telescope Viewing

Saturday, October 16
8:30-10 p.m.
Watch on Facebook and YouTube

Join us virtual for an International Observe the Moon Celebration with special guests from NASA and Chabot’s resident astronomers. Our astronomers will take you on a live virtual tour of Earth’s Moon through our research telescope. As you explore you will learn about some of the moon’s geologic features and land formations and their significance throughout the night.  

We’ll launch the program with a live science demonstration for families led by Jonas Dino from NASA. Following the demonstration our astronomers will broadcast live views of the moon. Our guest speaker for the evening will be NASA Ames Scientist Dr. Kimberly Ennico-Smith, who will talk about NASA’s Viper mission to the Moon. Afterwards we will resume virtual viewing with a brief question and answer period before resuming virtual viewing. 

Speakers

Jonas Dino is a NASA Ames Education Specialist focusing on K-8 engagement. He also works with the NASA Office of STEM Engagement supporting the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP).  

Dr. Kimberly Ennico-Smith is a research astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. She is multidisciplinary in her approach to space instruments, telescopes, and mission concepts. She has designed and built infrared airborne and space telescope cameras and spectrometers, tested detectors in laboratories and particle accelerators, designed low-cost suborbital instruments, and built lunar payloads. She has served as Project Scientist for the flying infrared observatory SOFIA and deputy Project Scientist on the New Horizons Pluto fly-by mission. She has been a member of the Science and Technology Definition Team for the Origins Space Telescope. She has authored 120+ peer-reviewed papers, presented 50+ invited technical talks and delivered 70+ public presentations about astronomy, space exploration and STEM. Asteroid 154587 Ennico is named for her. Since 2020, she is a deputy Project Scientist for NASA’s VIPER lunar volatiles rover.  

Gerald McKeegan, Chabot Space & Science Center Astronomer and Board member. Gerald McKeegan joined Chabot in the year 2000 as a volunteer and adjunct astronomer. Gerald serves on Chabot’s Board of Directors and is a member of the Eastbay Astronomical Society. McKeegan holds a Master of Science Degree in Space Studies and has over 40 years experience working in the space industry, where he was involved with numerous spacecraft projects, including the Space Shuttle, Cassini, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars InSight, Solar B, Juno and many others. In 1988, he was awarded the NASA “Silver Snoopy” award by the NASA Astronaut Office for his work in support of the Post-Challenger Space Shuttle Return to Flight program. Gerald also heads Chabot’s near-Earth asteroid search and tracking program and has made more than two thousand asteroid observations using Chabot’s 36-inch telescope.  

Richard Ozer, Chabot Space & Science Center Astronomer. Richard’s day job is managing an IT services company, but after 5 PM, he’s President of the Eastbay Astronomical Society, and in better times runs the Chabot Telescope Makers’ Workshop.  Richard also Organizes the annual Golden State Star Party in Lassen County, and is on the boards of the Group 70 large amateur telescope project as well as the Mt. Diablo Observatory. He’s also on the reconstruction committee for the Tri-Valley Observatory rebuild, taking place on the back-side of Mt. Hamilton, east of San Jose.  

About International Observe the Moon Night

International Observe the Moon Night is an annual worldwide public event that encourages observation, appreciation and understanding of our Moon and its connection to NASA planetary science and exploration. The annual event connects scientists, educators and lunar enthusiasts from around the world. #ObserveTheMoon  

International Observe the Moon Night is sponsored by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission and partners. LRO is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  

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