A cluster of telescopes lined the concrete outside of Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, and families leaned in to take peeks at the moon’s craters through their lenses. Strangers chatted to each other about space, and above them a waxing gibbous glowed in between dark strips of clouds.
Stargazers across Gainesville joined millions of people worldwide Saturday night to celebrate International Observe the Moon Night. The event was celebrated in over 120 countries as part of NASA’s initiative to unite people across the globe. In Gainesville, that celebration stretched across the city to Santa Fe College.
The event connected local families and students to the worldwide celebration, offering a chance to learn about the moon, engage with hands-on science and see the night sky through high-powered equipment courtesy of the Alachua Astronomy Club…