About a month ago, I started organizing the International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN), scheduled for October 16, 2021.
I posted an "event" on Facebook, indicating the purpose and date with a call for anyone who has a telescope and wants to organize (in Israel) an observation that will be part of the international event - feel free to call me.
Nine Observation places in Israel were registered for the event!
Israel is a relatively small country, and nine hotspots scattered throughout the country is a wonderful achievement.
Since the observation was set for a date in the fall, and the weather was changeable, I suggested that we also prepare Plan B in case of high clouds or rain. In my case, I scheduled a movie screening at the local cultural center about the landing of Apollo 11 on the moon.
When I woke up on the morning of the observation, Saturday, October 16, my eyes darkened: a thick blanket of clouds covered the sky!
All morning and noon I peeked at the sky every few minutes and to my delight the weather slowly cleared, until when the moon rose above the horizon it was completely clear and after sunset the sun, moon, Jupiter and Saturn got along in one beautiful row!
I assembled the telescope, and prepared the film screening at the Cultural Center. Soon the first children began to arrive and soon a long line was drawn near the telescope and the cultural center was filled with children and gods who wanted to see the history of landing on the moon.
During the evening I received updates from the various observation points, where there was a great response.
In total I believe we have reached in all the centers more than 1000 spectators! Who saw the moon, Jupiter and its moons and Saturn and its rings.
At my place of residence, the children were so enthusiastic that they did not want to go home at the end of the event.
Many Thanks to: The Israeli Astronomy Association, Liron Nagar Feibish, Ilan Shapira, Maria Mazos, Joe Blankchtein, Adi Amsterdam, for the success of a wonderful event.
Already looking forward to the 2022 events
Eden Orion