July 15, 2019 — Tomorrow is the first full moon of summer, an event that signifies so many different things, it’s got a name for each of them. It’s the Thunder Moon, the Hay Moon or the Ripe Corn Moon. It’s the Guru Moon on the Indian sub-contnent, a special night for honoring teachers, scholars and spiritual guides. At the Point Arena Lighthouse, it’s called the Buck Moon, because that’s when the deer start getting their antlers. Tomorrow night’s moon will be accompanied by a partial lunar eclipse, which everyone in the world except those of us in North America will be able to see.
But North Americans can still see the moon on the ocean from the top of the Point Arena Lighthouse, in a tiny room that used to house a Fresnel lens, which was invented in the 19th century but looks like it belongs in a science fiction film about the future.
KZYX went on a special almost-full buck moon tour of the lighthouse on Saturday night. It was a lunar dress rehearsal for Tuesday’s weeknight event, and the moon happened to be on almost full disply. Mark Hancock, the Executive Director of Point Arena Lightkeepers Incorporated, led the way in the dark up 145 narrow, winding stairs. The Lightkeepers is a nonprofit that’s owned the building and the 23 acres around it since the federal government quit-claim deeded them the site in 2000.
Join us for a tour of the lighthouse with Hancock, where we’ll touch on the impermanence of love, history, and the planet.