For casual visitors, Observatory Park is open daily 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. at 10610 Clay Street in Montville Township. For those wanting a more guided experience, however, Naturalist (“Astro-Nat”) Chris Mentrek is eager to show you around this International Dark Sky Park.
Park buildings are open on select Saturday nights 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. for night sky viewing with park telescopes and Sunday afternoons 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for The Sky Tonight Planetarium Show. Visit Geauga Park District for specific dates and times.
Special programs to study the season’s full moons are scheduled for Thursday, January 12th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (The Wolf Moon), Friday, February 10th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (A Very Partial Eclipse) and Sunday, March 12th, 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (The Worm Moon).
Hour-long focus programs on Fridays at 7:00 p.m. will offer glimpses into dark matter on January 13th and 27th; Supernova 1987a and its 30th birthday on February 24th; and how the ancient Norse may have used a rock to navigate the seas on March 10th and 24th.
A naturalist will guide an any-weather Winter Walk on Saturday, February 11th, 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., around a wooded trail. If you show up this day, please dress for the weather and wear boots if it’s snowy.
And this park is truly for all ages, as evidenced by the presence of both a Timbertots moon program and a Senior Day snowshoeing program on its winter calendar! Registration is required for these special programs at Geauga Park District or 440-286-9516.
Before your trip, learn more about Observatory Park online at .
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