MOON MISSIONS AND LUNAR LEGENDS Two Programs Honor the Moon Through Science, Art, and Stories

Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center continues the Full Moon Cultural Series with a pair of events on Saturday, July 20 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Lunar Landing and the importance of the Moon in indigenous cultures.

At 6:30 pm in the Community Services Building at 74325 Joe Davis Drive, the celebration starts with “Going to the Moon: How Did We Get There?” as Artist Chuck Caplinger joins Astronomer Ray Yeager for a visual trip through the early days of the space program up to the Apollo 11 Moon Landing on July 20, 1969. In the 60’s, Chuck was Art Director of Space Concepts – contracted by NASA to illustrate scenarios of space exploration.  Chuck will read from his autobiography and display his illustrations.

At 8:30 pm on the Observatory stage at 9697 Utah Trail, the celebration continues with “La Luna Desvela: The Moon Reveals,” honoring Latino Conservation Week with a program in Spanish, English, and American Sign Language. Co-sponsored by the Wildlands Conservancy, Mojave Desert Land Trust, and Sky’s The Limit, the evening features Native American stories told by Blanca Villalobos, Whitewater Preserve’s Education Coordinator, and Pat Murkland, of the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center.

Art Basulto and Cindy Holland of MDLT will introduce live desert creatures and talk about conserving the land and wildlife. Amy Eden & Kerstin Isabella will provide ASL translation. The program will close with music in Spanish, English, and Latin American indigenous languages as the moon rises. Guests are encouraged to linger under the desert night sky.

An anonymous gift makes possible these Full Moon Programs, exploring how diverse cultures understand the significance of the desert, earth, and sky. The gatherings take place on Saturdays under the bright desert moon.
Guests are urged to dress for unpredictable desert weather and bring comfortable camp chairs and water. The campus will open at 7:30 pm to allow time to explore the setting. Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged. A suggested donation of $10 per vehicle will help sustain this series and support these nonprofit organizations.
There are no overnight stays and NO CAMPING anywhere on the Observatory and Nature Center property. No pets, no smoking or alcohol allowed, and visitors must carry out all trash. Adults must accompany and take responsibility for the safety and behavior of children under 16.

Desert weather is very unpredictable, and this event may have to be delayed or rescheduled due to rain or excessive wind. Scheduled rain date is Sunday, July 21. Check @skysthelmit29 or follow @STL29Palms to learn the latest status of the event.
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For more information visit www.skysthelimit29.org/special-events and www.mdlt.org/events.