Moonwalk

Full Moon

Last night I led a sunset/moonrise hike on the Juan Bautista De Anza Trail a few miles from my camp on the outskirts of San Juan Bautista. The hike was co-sponsored by BenitoLink and the REACH San Benito Parks Foundation. It was yet another effort by these organizations to promote community health through outdoor recreation and public education.

Saturday night sunset from the De Anza Trail. Photo credit: Teri Johnstone.

I hiked up to a spot on the trail that had a natural windbreak and an overlook of San Juan Valley while participants arrived at the trail head below and registered with REACH staff. After the Sun was all the way down and the Moon was all the way up, this view was absolutely enchanting.

Overlooking the San Juan Valley, awaiting moonrise.

When I agreed to do this event, I figured maybe twenty-five people would show up. By the time Saturday arrived, more than two hundred folks had registered on the REACH web site! Less than a hundred actually showed up, but it was still quite a turnout. I was so happy to see many young parents and their kids.

The Smith family of San Juan Bautista. Photo credit: Katie Smith.

I fed off the kids' energy and used them as props in demonstrating the relative movements of the Earth, Sun, and Moon. They were smart and engaged and willing. Even the littlest ones knew that the Sun is a star and the Moon reflects the light of the Sun. With some coaching, they acted out the Moon's synchronous orbit around Earth, showing why we only see one lunar side, and how the lunar phases change every 29-ish days. They were great!

Choosing kiddos to be the Moon, Earth, and Sun. Photo credit: Rolan Resendez.

Even though I was a little rusty after five years of active, but quiet retirement, I think my explanations of how the Moon formed and how the lunar phases work came across pretty well. I did the presentation twice for two pods of hikers as they shuffled up the rather steep mile and a half section of the trail.

Moonrise nature preaching. Photo credit: Rolan Resendez.

One of the things I mentioned to the hikers is my personal pet lunar peeve. What's that, you ask? Well, here it is: there are more than 160 moons (and counting) in our solar system. We have blessed them with some very interesting names, like Io, Ganymede, Hyperion, Miranda, Tethys, and Titan. Yet, we persist in calling our moon "The Moon." This is either grossly unimaginative or hugely egotistical on our part, don't you think?

What's my name? Photo credit: Teri Johnstone.

I mentioned my peeve to everyone present before the hikers began to walk back down the by then magically illuminated trail. I encouraged them to come up with a new name for the Moon and email it to me as soon as possible. Almost immediately, a bright and shining eight-year-old girl had an idea. She wants to call the Moon "La Princessa." Think that one over, Disney fans! A distinguished panel of former science teachers from San Benito County, California will sift through responses and make a decision for the rest of the planet. An announcement will be made by summer solstice, 2018.

If readers of this blog would also like to participate, please send me your best names for The Moon as soon as possible. Send them here: jim.ostdick@gmail.com .

Peace, Love, and La Luna,
Jim