The moon has been a source of fascination and wonder for humans for many centuries. On a clear night, the full moon can be a breathtaking sight! It is a reminder of our place in the universe, and it inspires us to dream of all the possibilities that lie beyond our planet. For these reasons, and the fact that the next full moon falls Friday, May 5, the Aurora Public Library District chose to celebrate this celestial body for our upcoming First Fridays event at the Santori Library in Aurora.
Headlining the event is professional local storyteller Jasmin Cardenas, a Colombian-American award winning bilingual storyteller, theater-maker, actress, educator, and social activist. For our program she is creating a storytelling experience, especially for Aurora, focused on myths and legends unique to the moon. Be sure to grab a Moon Pie snack (available while supplies last) and have a seat picked out by 6:15 p.m. when her interactive performance will begin!
After the performance, be sure to look up for more astronomy-themed offerings when you wander the space. “The Santori Atrium features a stunning art installation by Jerome ‘Jerry’ Savage entitled The Dream Catcher. It incorporates many astronomical elements,” points out Event and Program coordinator, Ali Lanthrum. “It makes the perfect setting for the night’s events!”
Lanthrum took the full moon theme and made it soar by inviting members of the Fox Valley Astronomical Society to chat with like-minded astronomy-loving individuals and share their knowledge with attendees. Did you know that in 1977, a collection of sounds representing Earth were sent into space? Known as the Voyager Golden Record, the recordings were compiled by Dr. Carl Sagan and his associates to communicate the story of our world to galaxies far, far, away. The Voyager crafts carrying the Golden Record are in interstellar space more than 12 billion miles away, which makes them the farthest human-made objects from Earth. If you want to hear what sounds were chosen in 1977 to represent our world, be sure to give it a listen at our event!
For little star-gazers born after 1977, set up camp at the craft table to decorate a postcard that will be sent into orbit by Blue Origin’s Club for the Future! The completed postcards will be launched into space on a New Shepard rocket and returned stamped with “Flown to Space.” Then pretend you’re bouncing on the moon (or howling at it with a pack of wolves) at our green-screen photo opportunity. Speaking of wolves, staff members from the Big Run Wolf Ranch will bring two nocturnal critters for a meet and greet with attendees. One plays dead and one makes you run; can you guess the animals?
Another mystery to be revealed that evening will be the winner of our 2023 Library Card Design Contest! We’re so thankful to all the wonderful artists who submitted their designs. Be sure to vote for your favorite at www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/cardcontest and count your lucky stars that it wins!
We’ve traveled through the stars, but the moon is the only rock outside of Earth that humans have ever visited. And it remains a source of great mystery, similar to the vast majority of space. We hope by attending our First Fridays: Full Moon event Friday, May 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Santori Library you will walk away with new knowledge about space and our closet neighbor in the sky.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.