Fall at Observatory Park
among offerings: Monsters, beavers, cosmic rays and citizen science
For casual visitors, Observatory Park is open daily 6 a.m. to 11 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 the second and fourth weekends of each month: Friday and Saturday (except December 5 and 6, when the park will be closed for controlled hunting) for self-guided night sky viewing with Park District telescopes from 6 to 11 p.m., as well as Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., including The Sky Tonight Planetarium Show at 2 p.m. to tell you “what’s up” in the night sky.
More structured programming is also available for visitors of all ages and interest groups.
Biweekly Friday Programs, all from 7 to 8 p.m.
- October 24: Monsters in the Sky ( learn about, then view, some of our more spooky constellations via planetarium and telescope)
- November 7 and 21: Cosmic Ray Cloud Chambers (where you’ll build your own cosmic ray detector)
- December 12 and 26: Citizen Science in Astronomy (where you’ll learn how to participate online)
Special Programs
Study the season’s full moons:
- Thursday, November 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (The Beaver Moon)
- Saturday, December 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. (The Cold Moon)
Youth Programs
Available for ages 3 – 12 this season with registration online or 440-286-9516.
Timbertots:
Wonderful Weather, for ages 3-5 with an adult
Monday, November 17, from 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m.
Curious tots will love joining Nora the Explorer to uncover all of the wonders of weather, with activities outside if the weather permits.
Homeschool Days:
Awesome Astronomy, for ages 5-8 and 9-12
Friday, October 24, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Kids will discover constellations, planets and more with a fun planetarium show and planetary trail hike. Adults may attend but need not register, or may drop off children with waivers.
With the exception of youth programming, all Observatory Park programs this season are free to attend without registration and wheelchair/stroller accessible. Learn more about Observatory Park and for details on these and other parks’ programming this fall, visit the website and click Find a Program.
Geauga Park District is online, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
