Poster presentations and abstracts
Session assets
Introduction: International Observe the Moon Night is an annual worldwide public engagement program that encourages observation, appreciation, and understanding of our Moon and its connection to planetary science and exploration. It is also a time to celebrate our personal and cultural connections to Earth's nearest celestial neighbor. Every autumn, we ask people around the globe to observe the Moon in some way (virtually or in-person) – whether that be from one's own backyard, a local library, an event at a university, a planetarium, or other locales. In doing so, participants become part of a worldwide collection of individuals united in admiring the Moon.
Anyone anywhere on Earth can participate by hosting or attending an event, or by joining in as individual lunar observers. By registering on the International Observe the Moon Night website, moon.nasa.gov/observe, event hosts and observers add themselves to a worldwide map of International Observe the Moon Night participants and receive additional event information and resources. Events can be registered as either public or private; public events allow everyone to see when and where the event will be held. This year, we are also making registration more accommodating of virtual events, so people will have the option of registering an event as virtual or in-person.
Global Event: Since the first International Observe the Moon Night was held in 2010, we have engaged with an estimated 1.4 million participants in 107 different countries and all 50 U.S. states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia [1]. It is incredible and inspiring to see how people around the world celebrate our nearest celestial neighbor and to learn how different cultures view the Moon.
Each year, we strive to reach an even larger and more diverse global audience by reaching out to potential international partners. These new partners are able to directly connect with their local communities and can use International Observe the Moon Night as a tool for strengthening community ties.
Figure 1: International Observe the Moon Night 2019 participants in Damascus, Syria. Image credit: Nasser Alkadi, https://flic.kr/p/2htghFu
Engaging Local Communities. We endeavor to better connect International Observe the Moon Night with local communities, and in doing so, share and inspire Moon-themed stories, images, artwork, and more through these community connections. International Observe the Moon Night provides the opportunity to unite in learning about and observing the Moon and the wonders of lunar and planetary exploration. It is also a great way for scientists to share lunar science with their communities and to connect with community partners.
Not only is there a variety of science to share, there are also numerous other ways that people can observe and celebrate the Moon. We encourage broad interpretation; looking at the Moon through telescopes or binoculars or the naked eye, observing the Moon through art or writings, or "tasting the Moon" via cookie lunar models are just a few examples.
Figure 2: Participants in Brazil celebrating International Observe the Moon Night 2019. Image credit: Gunstar Team, https://flic.kr/p/2hsxwZP
All International Observe the Moon Night events are unique. We offer a variety of resources on our website, but this event is one that people can take and make their own, tailored to their interests and the resources they have available, and the needs and interests of their audience. Most International Observe the Moon Night events are hosted with community partnerships, whether they be local astronomy clubs, community centers, libraries, or other organizations, which bolsters the event's impact at both an individual and community level.
Figure 3: International Observe the Moon Night 2019 participants viewing the Moon in Iraq. Image credit: Eyad Khailany, https://flic.kr/p/2hrpuF6
Virtual Engagement. This year in particular, we are offering more opportunities for virtual engagement. There will also be an option to designate an event as virtual or in-person during registration. International Observe the Moon Night provides an opportunity to connect with fellow lunar enthusiasts around the world through our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/observethemoon/, #ObserveTheMoon across social media platforms, and the International Observe the Moon Night Flickr group. We encourage the sharing of creative ideas and meaningful interactions through these online platforms.
No matter how individuals participate, they should observe in a way that is safe and healthy for both themselves and their communities. In particular, we recommend that all U.S. participants adhere to CDC and local health guidelines and that international observers follow local laws and guidelines when considering hosting in-person events.
We will offer a few recommendations for participating in the program, along with the benefits, and will highlight examples from past events.
International Observe the Moon Night is sponsored by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission and the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, with many contributing partners.
References: [1] Buxner, S. et al.: Lessons Learned and Outcomes from 10 Years of Evaluating International Observe the Moon Night, AGU, 9-13 December 2019, San Francisco, CA, USA.
How to cite: Tiedeken, S., Jones, A., Wasser, M., Barry, C., Whelley, N., Buxner, S., Bakerman, M., Joseph, E., Shaner, A., Fooshee, J., Day, B., Gay, P., and White, V.: International Observe the Moon Night: An Opportunity for Global Community Engagement, Europlanet Science Congress 2020, online, 21 Sep–9 Oct 2020, EPSC2020-161, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc2020-161, 2020.
Within the European Horizon-2020 project PlanMap - whose aim is to provide integrated cartography with spectral information, stratigraphy and 3D geologic models of the subsurface - several artists contributed in shaping the vision of geological exploration of planetary bodies of our Solar System for the wide public (https://planmap.eu/content/artists). We addressed a broad audience of kids, students and general public by means of dedicated artworks and the production of a project soundtrack. We realised the following initiatives: (a) The “Drawing for Kids” storyline tells the adventures of the project's mascot Geolyn who is portrayed in stand-alone contexts related to planetary geology and exploration. These paintings aim to present geological mapping to the young public depicting in a very friendly and simple way the mapping process; (b) The “Drawing the Future” illustrations aim to deliver the vision of a near future where the tools and the scientific products of Planmap become hands-on applications for the exploration of the Moon, Mars and Mercury. This storyline aims to engage secondary school students and the general public showing planetary landscapes explored through enhanced tools and augmented reality; (c) “Drawing the Comic” is an initiative that is regularly published in the PLaNCK! Magazine (www.planck- magazine.it) and narrates the adventures of Marie, Max, Planck and nanny Rose delivering accurate and correct scientific information using vocabulary and narrative strategy suitable for the target audience; (d) The Planmap soundtrack project led to the realization of a dedicated multi-instrument track within the ITH project which aims to explore the baffling emotions and feelings of dreams from the point of view of a blind child. ITH is a one man band project with exploration desire at its core and each song has references to space, stars and science.
This initiative is supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement N°776276 (PLANMAP).
How to cite: De Toffoli, B., Pozzobon, R., Montagna, C., Schiavo, J., Scotton, B. M., Fantino, I., and Massironi, M.: The art of exploring, Europlanet Science Congress 2020, online, 21 Sep–9 Oct 2020, EPSC2020-892, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc2020-892, 2020.
