El Dorado County observatory celebrates 20 years with free view of the moon
Placerville’s Community Observatory marked its 20th anniversary Saturday as stargazers joined NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night.
PLACERVILLE, Calif. —
Stargazers in El Dorado County joined people around the world Saturday to celebrate International Observe the Moon Night as the Community Observatory marked a milestone of its own: 20 years of bringing the night sky closer to home.
The free Placerville observatory celebrated its anniversary with telescope viewing and family activities as part of the annual NASA-supported event.
International Observe the Moon Night encourages people worldwide to learn about lunar science and exploration and observe Earth’s nearest celestial neighbor. NASA schedules the event around the Moon’s first-quarter phase, when shadows along the boundary between lunar day and night can make craters and other rugged terrain stand out.
The Community Observatory opened in 2006 after the Rotary Club of Cameron Park raised money and contributed volunteer labor to build it. The observatory continues to operate with an all-volunteer staff and offers free public viewing.
Volunteer Randy Hodges told KCRA 3 the observatory sees about 12,000 visitors each year.
Hodges said one of the rewards for volunteers comes when visitors see objects such as Saturn or the Moon through a telescope for the first time.
“That’s what energized us, is to see that,” Hodges said.
For visitor Ari Swanson, who has made several trips to the observatory, stargazing also offers an escape from everyday life.
“It’s a nice way to get away from the commotion that is daily life and get out here and kind of be with nature and be with the sky,” Swanson said.
Saturday’s celebration included several telescopes and coincided with the observatory’s 20th anniversary. Admission was free.
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