EVENTS

Join us in this annual celebration of the moon with music, stargazing and guest speaker Randall DiGiuseppe!

In cooperation with NASA, Custer Observatory will be participating in this special International Observe the Moon Night event. This is a worldwide celebration of lunar science and exploration held annually since 2010. One day each year, everyone on Earth is invited to observe and learn about the Moon together, and to celebrate the cultural and personal connections we all have with our nearest celestial neighbor.

International Observe the Moon Night is sponsored by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission and the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and other NASA and astronomical organizations that encourage observation, appreciation, and understanding of our Moon and its connection to planetary science and exploration.

This year's event is an even bigger celebration than in years past with music, stargazing and a special presentation by our own Randall DiGiuseppe!

6:30PM - CONCERT: Songs the Moon Sang to Me

A live performance of the original composition by Long Island composer JD Verbeck, this piece is as much about the Earth and humanity as it is about the Moon. In December of 1968, three men achieved a view of the Earth that had only been dreamed of before: the Earth, floating alone in a black void. This image had the power to transform how we see our position in the universe, how we treat one another, and how we treat our planet. Scored for violin, flute, and French horn, "Songs the Moon Sang to Me" explores these ideas through music, evoking both the surreal and desolate landscape of the lunar environment and the existential reality of our place in the cosmos.

8:00PM - TALK: Wonders of the Autumn Night Sky, Part One: Artemis & Andromeda

Fall 2026 is rife with special celestial events, starting with this evening’s International Observe the Moon Night! To celebrate this occasion, Custer’s own Randall DiGiuseppe will be making a special stop along his guided tour of the Autumn night sky to explore our closest celestial neighbor, the Moon. The tour resumes with an in-depth look at the constellations that make up the ancient Greek tale of Perseus, Andromeda and the Sea Monster. Join us for a memorable night of moon craters, star clusters and neighboring galaxies. Oh, and a sea monster!

7:30PM - MIDNIGHT - If the weather is clear, observatory staff will be providing guided tours of the Moon and other night sky objects with the many telescopes on site throughout the night, including the apochromatic Zerochromat telescope in our historic observation dome.

$10 Adult, $5 Children Under 16 , Observatory Members FREE. Your donations allow Custer Observatory to continue to offer programs like this and are greatly appreciated. This will be a rain or shine event. Stargazing is weather-permitting.

Please bring a blanket or chair to enjoy the outdoor presentation.