EXCHANGE: Tales of Ancient Moon Watchers

Monday, July 8 | 5:30 – 7 pm | $12 for a single class, $40 for all four classes
Instructor: Dr. Erica Ellingson

Join us at the Farm to purchase of Pint’s Peak Ice Cream and a Farm Tour!

The field of skyscape archaeology explores how ancient cultures perceived and conceived the sky and its objects. Dr. Ellingson’s lecture will focus on our scientific and humanistic relationships with the moon across cultures and history. This lecture will touch on how civilizations understood lunar cycles, eclipses, how the moon influenced their mythology, prehistoric structures (think Stonehenge), and the use of the lunar (think Hebrew) calendar. And, because we are currently in the period of the “Major Lunar Standstill” – an 18.6-year cycle during which the moon’s orbit of Earth oscillates or wobbles – learn about the upcoming moonrise events at Colorado’s Chimney Rock National Monument in September 2024.

Dr. Erica Ellingson is an astrophysicist who delights in using telescopes large and small, in space and at observatories worldwide. Her work includes investigating galaxy clusters, the evolution of galaxies, black holes, and the mysterious cosmological forces of dark matter and dark energy. Her research also includes historical and archaeo-astronomy and she is an editor with the International Journal of Skyscape Archaeology. She also teaches and produces educational programs at the Fiske Planetarium at the University of Colorado and is an astronomical consultant with the U.S. National Park Service. Enjoy delicious food for purchase from Pint’s Peak Ice Cream Truck from 4 – 7:30 pm and enjoy a tour of the Milk and Honey Farm at 7 pm.