We all know there are thousands of man-made satellites in space, but the Moon is our only natural satellite. Before Galileo in 1610, we didn’t know any other moons existed so we just called it “the moon”. But now that we know there are many planets that have moons like Mars that has 2 moons, Jupiter which has 3 moons, and Saturn which has 9 moons orbiting them, we refer to our moon with a capital “M”. Of all the moons we are aware of, our Moon is the 5th largest. And our Moon, is about 1/4 the size of the earth. When you look at the moon and the sun, they look about the same size, but that’s because the moon is 400 times closer to us than the sun. The sun is 400 times bigger than the moon.

The moon was formed about 4.5 billion years ago when another planet crashed into the earth and all the debris from that crash stayed in the earths orbit, eventually forming the Moon. The moon has no atmosphere and not much gravity, but because of the gravitational forces of the earth, the moon is locked into the same rotation pattern as the earth so we are always seeing the same side of the moon; the near side. Think of it as a couple ballroom dancing together. Even when they turn, they are always facing each other. The Moon actually has no light. Its’ surface is reflective like asphalt and the light we see is the sun’s light reflecting back to us. During its monthly rotation, it blocks the sun so that’s why we see different phases of it (waxing crescent, waning gibbous, new and full moons). Temperatures on the moon range from 225 degrees in the day down to -298 degrees at night.

Humans have always been captivated by the Moon, but in 1959, the Soviet Union made the first manned space flight around the moon, but did not land. There have only been 12 humans ever to set foot on the moon, and they have all been American. Four other countries, Russia, China, Japan & India have all landed robotic exploration vehicles on the moon. It was the Indian spacecraft that successfully mapped ice on the poles of the moon informing us that water is present on the moon but mostly at the 2 poles where it gets very little sunlight and is very cold (appx. -410 degrees). As a matter of fact, just yesterday the U.S. landed the 1st spacecraft in 50 years on the south pole of the Moon and is going to spend about 7 days doing tests before the 2 week “lunar night” starts which makes it too cold for it to remain on the Moon at this location.

Why aren’t countries going to the moon today? The entire cost of the Apollo program was $25 billion (That’s counting the 7 trips to the moon, with 6 of them landing astornauts on the moon – Apollo 13 didn’t make it….see the movie). Today that same program adjusted for inflation would cost appx. $152 billion. But the U.S. is working on it and has hopes of returning to the moon in 2026.

Saturday Feb. 24th
First Garden Club Class of Season
Idyllwild Community Garden
Alderwood St and N. Circle Drive
“Seed Starting”
10:00 am – 11:00 am

Join Bob Greenamyer for this first in a series of basic gardening concepts: seed starting. Starting seeds now will give you a jump on planting later in the year. We’ll make seed starting medium, learn about reading a seed packet, plant a variety of seeds and much more. 

For more info go to www.idyllwildgardenclub.com

Saturday Feb. 24th
Idyllwild Arts
Jazz Combo Concert
Stephens Recital Hall
7:30 pm

This concert will highlight the traditional and free elements of jazz improvisation and showcase the student’s original arrangements and creativity within the repertoire.

Saturday Feb. 24th
“Ray Charles Tribute“
Greg Jones Band
Rustic Theatre
7:30 PM

Sunday Feb. 25h
Idyllwild Arts
Idy Student Talks
Riki Moore & Andrew Moore
Krone Library
2:00 pm

Join us as Riki Moore (2024 Dramatic Arts major) and Andrew Moore (2024 Music major) share their stories with us.

Sunday Feb. 25th
10 am – 3pm
Pug Puppies up for Adoption at ARF
26890 State Highway 243

Order by Monday Feb. 26th, 2024
Next Food Delivery Thursday Feb. 29th, 2024

MOUNTAIN AID
Need food or other items?
Want to help those who do?
Twice monthly food boxes for every budget.

Pick-up will be at the Camp Maranatha
www.MountainAid.net

Tuesday Feb. 27th
Idyllwild Library
Guitar Concert
5:00 pm

Music of beloved local Dave Pelham performed by 4 unique & outstanding guitarists!

Wednesday Feb. 28th
Idyllwild Library
Kid’s Story Time
“Unicorns”
11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join us for story time, followed by balloon twisting w/ Jennifer.

Idyllwild Scholarship Fund
Application Acceptance Open

Tax Forms Available FREE
Idyllwild Library

Most of the tax forms are here! Just waiting on the Spanish 1040s. They are located in our front lobby, come help yourself.

Thursday March 7th
CERT Meeting
Idyllwild Fire Dept. Training Room
6:00 pm
All are welcome!

March 5th – 10th
Locals…
Buy your ticket now for the entire Film Festival for only $25.
All films included with your “Locals Pass”

Wednesday March 13th
Science Talk w/ Larry Kawano
Spirit Mountain Retreat
“Great Women Physicists”
3:00 pm

Wednesday March 13th
Mountain Area Safety Meeting
Idy Nature Center
11:00 am – 12:00 pm

26890 Hwy. 243
951-659-1122

The New Bathrooms are OPEN!
Next door to the Idyllwild Gardens Nursery – Across the street from the Rustic Theatre.
Open Daily 9am – 5pm

Thank you to Shane & Ashley Stewart for donating the land for these bathrooms and to Stephanie Yost with ICC for her persistence with the County of Riverside to FINALLY get us public bathrooms. Thank you to the County of Riverside and Supervisor Manuel Perez for making this happen. It’s been a LONG time coming! Bathrooms will be locked at night. I’m not sure what time yet.

Hotel Information
Upcoming Weekends
www.IdyLodging.com

Idyllwild Churches

Body & Soul

Click Here for a list of Yoga, Pilates, Aerobics, & Meditation in Idyllwild.

All events, venues & programs run by
Idyllwild Community Center

Fit after 50
Free Exercise Class
Town Hall

Mondays
12-pm – 1pm

Tue/Wed/Thur
10am – 11am

Fridays
12-pm – 1pm

Youth Baseball
Registration Open
Season: April 8-May 30

Kids After School Program
Mondays – Fridays
2:00pm – 6:00pm

Wednesdays 12pm – 6pm

Kids Camps at Town Hall:
President’s Holiday Week
Spring Break
Memorial Day Holiday

Spring Sing Break Camp
April 1st – 4th
Town Hall
10:00 am – 4 pm

Al-Anon Meetings
Tuesdays
7:00 PM
Town Hall