Geauga Park District’s Observatory Park is open daily 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. in Montville Township, and Naturalist Astro-Nat”) Chris Mentrek is eager to show you around this International Dark Sky Park during the following special programs all season long.
Observatory Park’s historic Nassau Astronomical Station at 10350 Clay Street, 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 these Saturdays, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.: January 13th and 27th, February 10th, 17th and 24th, and March 10th and 24th. If conditions aren’t favorable, enjoy a planetarium show instead at the Robert McCullough Science Center. Members of the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society participate on February 17th.
Back at the main campus at 10610 Clay Street, enjoy full moon programs on Tuesday, January 2nd, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (The Wolf Moon), and Thursday, March 1st, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (The Worm Moon).
End your January with a partial lunar eclipse! We’ll use our telescopes for an early-morning glimpse of Earth’s shadow darkening the “blue moon” on Wednesday, January 31st, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Cloudy skies will cancel this program; call the Observatory Park hotline, 440-279-0820, for notice.
Do you have a telescope that’s just gathering dust? Bring it in! We’ll be delighted to help you get the most enjoyable astronomy experience out of your equipment and offer a few maintenance tips during Bring In Your Telescope on Saturday, February 24th, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Then stick around for night sky viewing if you’d like.
If you like to paint, craft or simply try new things with friends, sign up for the “Full Moon Rising” Glass Painting Workshop on Friday, March 30th, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., to paint a rising moon motif on a set of two drinking glasses, which may be used as candle holders, with Jeannie Carder Shimek from Artifacts Gift Studio. 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 Saturdays, January 27th (Wolf Cub Scout Paws on the Path from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Cadette Girl Scouts Night Owl Badge from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and February 10th (Bear Cub Scouts Fur, Feathers & Ferns Core Adventure from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Senior & Ambassador Girl Scouts Astronomy Night from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.).
Hands-on astronomy education will be offered during hour-long programs these Fridays, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.: January 12th and 26th (Plants in Space), February 9th and 23rd (Mapping the Milky Way), and March 9th and 23rd (Weather Satellites & How To Use Them), followed by night sky until 11:00 p.m. if weather permits.
And finally, “Astro-Nat” Chris will open the Robert McCullough Science Center and Oberle Observatory these Sundays, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: January 14th and 28th, February 11th and 25th, and March 11th and 25th, all featuring The Sky Tonight Planetarium Shows at 2:00 p.m.
Registration is required for the scouting programs and glass painting workshop at Geauga Park District or 440-286-9516. Learn more about Observatory Park any time of day or night online at .
For more on Geauga Park District offerings, please call 440-286-9516 or visit us online at Geauga Park District, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.
