This evening, internationally-known lunar photographer and lunar expert Robert Reeves will present “Understanding the Face of the Moon” at the Taylor Observatory in Kelseyville.
In the 1960s the Moon was a big deal in our society. Reaching the Moon became a goal for our nation to achieve. It was a destination to be explored by American heroes who rode a pillar of fire and dared to set foot upon another world. Although lunar explorations ended in the early 1970s, the Moon is still a fascinating celestial target that begs for our attention. The Moon does not need dark skies for observation and is accessible from everywhere. By understanding the basics of how the face of the Moon evolved and what its various geological features represent, the Moon becomes a fascinating celestial companion providing timeless explorations through a telescope.
Reeves has been exploring the moon since 1958 and took his first lunar photograph in 1959. Although lunar photography has been his “primary focus” he has published over 250 magazine articles and 175 newspaper columns about astronomy. His articles have appeared in Sky and Telescope, Astronomy, Deep Sky, Deep Sky Journal, Amateur Astronomy, and The Astrograph. He has also published three books on astrophotography.
His current passion is re-popularizing the moon within the amateur astronomy community. He has perfected image-processing techniques that allow the amateur astronomer, using modest equipment, to exceed the quality of Earth-based professional lunar photographs taken during the Apollo era. His observatory is in Central Texas, and he and his wife have sequential asteroids named after them.
His lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by a full-dome planetarium show and a tutorial on the March constellations by Eduardo Alatorre. Weather permitting, telescope viewing will round out the evening.
