Moon over Monona Terrace

Moon Over Monona Terrace

Moon glowing in the night sky over Monona Terrace.

Moon Over Monona Terrace
Friday, October 16, 2026
6:30-10 PM

Monona Terrace William T. Evjue Rooftop Gardens

Free and Open to Public. Free ticket required for admission.

Explore the surface of the Moon and other celestial objects through telescopes provided by MAS members.

Get Tickets

A FREE ticket is required for admission for all attendees, subject to venue capacity and issued on a first come first serve basis. There’s a limit of eight tickets per patron. In the event of rain or diminished viewing from cloud cover, the event will be held on the following Friday, October 23.

Kids Zone
7 Kids activities will be available

What You’ll See

Waxing Crescent Moon (viewing from 6:30-7 PM) Eagle Nebula/ Pillars of Creation
Saturn Andromeda Galaxy
North American Nebula Dumbbell Nebula
Ring Nebula Triangulum Galaxy
Double Cluster in Cassiopeia Pleiades (Seven Sisters)
Pac Man Nebula Heart Nebula
M13 Hercules Globular Cluster M15 Globular Cluster
M22 Globular Cluster

Presentation Schedule

7:00 & 8:00 PM | Loving the Night Sky with Your Naked Eye,
Binoculars & Cell Phone
Presented by Frank Ranallo, UW physicist and professor.

7:30 | PM What’s Up Tonight?
Presented by Dr. Jim Lattis, retired director of UW-Madison’s Astronomy Department and UW Space Place.

8:30 PM | Getting Our Heads Around Cosmic Distances
Presented by Kevin Santulis, President of the Madison Astronomical Society.

9:00 PM | Galileo’s Legacy: 400 Years of Telescopes
Presented by Dr. Jim Lattis, retired director of UW-Madison’s Astronomy Department and UW Space Place.

9:30 PM | Top Secret Imaging: Tips the Astrophoto Pros are Hiding from You
Presented by Rick Wayne, Vice President of Madison Astronomical Society.

Losing My Dark Side
Song written by Benjamin J. Senson

Benjamin J. Senson, Planetarium Director at MMSD Planetarium, Astronomy Instructor at Madison College, and Founder of Friends of Planetariums.
Ben created a beautiful song that highlights the importance of preserving our dark skies.

Madison Astrononomical Society logo next to Monona Terrace Community Programs Logo.

Past Moon Over Monona Terrace Gallery

  • outdoor kids events fun downtown madison
  • kids coloring activities events madison
  • astrology event outdoor local community
  • outdoor night event moon stars madison
  • Moon Over Monona Terrace
  • Moon over Monona Terrace madison