Monterey Institute for Research In Astronomy

08/12/2026

Friends of MIRA Night at Oliver Observing Station Rescheduled!

We unfortunately must postpone our upcoming Friends of MIRA night at the Oliver Observing Station scheduled for 15 August. The Timber Fire in Big Sur -- about 10 miles southwest of the observatory -- has continued to grow in size and presents a major safety concern for both the observatory and our guests.

We are tentatively rescheduling the event for the evening of Saturday 12 September. This depends on the success of the fire fighting in the rugged and difficult terrain of the Los Padres National Forest. As an already confirmed guest for 15 August, you are guaranteed a spot on the new date. Please let us know if you will be able to make it on 12 September.
Thank you for your understanding and we hope you all stay safe. See you in September!

06/02/2026

04/23/2026

1 Apr - 1 May

Astro Flash Fiction (or Poem) Competition
Entries Open: 1 April

Entries Close: 1 May (midnight)
Entry via email: See below for details.
Free Entry.



In order to share our wonder of the cosmos with the public and our Friends, MIRA has always sought to embody both scientific and artistic perspectives of astronomy. Our rich history of artistic collaboration includes the formation of the Friends of MIRA at Ansel Adams' house, naming our showcase lecture series for space artist Chesley Bonestell, and space art shows. The work of local poets also adorned the pages of your Newsletter through 1984 and 1985 in celebration of the opening of the Oliver Observing Station.



In continuation of that tradition, the MIRA Newsletter is holding its second annual Astro Flash Fiction competition. The winning story (or poem) will be published in the Summer Issue of the Newsletter and the winner will also receive a piece of classic MIRA memorabilia.



Rules:
Writers are invited to submit a short story of no more than 300 words (or poem of no more than 20 lines). The story must have an astronomical theme, a plot that hinges on astronomy, or takes
place in an astronomical setting (e.g. an observatory).



How to Enter:
When entries open, you may submit your entry (1 per person) by emailing an attached file to [email protected] with a subject line of 'Flash Fiction Entry'. Include your full name and story title in the email. Include the story title in the attached file, but not your byline (for anonymous judging).



Acceptable file formats include .txt, .rtf, .docx, and .pdf.

04/09/2026

🌠 Join us for a Star Party at Garland Ranch Regional Park on Friday, April 17th from 8 pm to 10 pm!

☄️ Explore planets and deep sky objects with astronomers from Monterey Institute for Research In Astronomy
✨All ages, minors must be accompanied by an adult
🌧️ Cloud cover or rain cancels the event, register to receive notifications in case of cancelation!

🌟 For more information and to register for this FREE event see: mprpd.org/let-s-go-outdoors (link in bio.)

03/19/2026

Join MIRA as we participate in 831 Cares Night with Monterey Bay FC on Saturday April 4 at Cardinale Stadium!


The Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy is pleased to participate in this night of fun, festivities, and awareness for non-profits making an impact in the 831. We will be there bringing the planets to the soccer pitch before and throughout the game with views of the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter.


When you purchase a ticket to the game through our link below, $12.50 from every ticket goes back to MIRA and is used to support our many programs dedicated to research and education in astronomy along the Central Coast. Thank you for helping us make a positive impact in our community!


Purchase tickets here:

https://seatgeek.com/monterey-bay-fc-tickets/usl/2026-04-04-7-pm/17942866?sgo_ac=MIRA&quantity=1

02/27/2026

Dear Friends,

There will be a total lunar eclipse – often called a "Blood Moon" – in the early morning hours of 3 March. It will be fully visible from the western United States, and visible until moonset/sunrise the further east you are. A Lunar eclipse requires no special equipment to view, even from bright or light polluted areas; clear weather and a line of sight to the moon are sufficient. Due to the (very) early hours of the eclipse, MIRA will not be hosting any official viewing events, but instead provide some details below on how and when you can view it on your own.


During this eclipse the Moon will first enter the penumbra, the lighter, partially obscured region of Earth's shadow. In this phase, it can be difficult to see any changes in the Moon's appearance. Next, the Moon will enter Earth's umbra, the darkest, central region of the shadow forming a partial eclipse; this is when the Moon will look like a "bite" has been taken out of it. Once the moon is fully inside the umbra (totally eclipsed), the Moon will be distinctly red in color, forming a Blood Moon. This is caused by Earth's atmosphere filtering out the Sun's blue light on its way to the Moon via Rayleigh scattering. This is the exact same mechanism for why sunrise and sunset can appear red/orange (and the sky is blue!). These same phases repeat in reverse order until the moon is back to its bright, full self.