Moon Dinner Series: "The Sun and the Moon"

Moon Dinner Series

An annual dinner series celebrating the scientific wonder of our moon, sun, universe and beyond. Enjoy a chef curated dinner, wine pairings, and discussion with astronomy and planetary science educators from UC Santa Cruz followed by a telescope viewing.

Dinner #1: "The Sun and the Moon"

Date: Friday, October 16, 2026

Time: 7:00 - 9:30 pm

Location: Chaminade Resort & Spa

Pricing: $93.07 per person (including gratuity & tax)

All ages welcome. Non-alcohol beverages available.

Plated Menu

Course One: Hamachi Crudo with Spicy Avocado Crema, Jalapenos, Lime, Pickled Red Onion Yogurt

Course Two: Grilled Airline Chicken Breast, Glazed Carrots and Charred Broccolini, Corn Puree

Course Three: Raspberry Cheesecake, Whipped Cream, Fresh Berries 

Program: Educator Pranvera Hyseni will discuss her research on asteroids, comets and meteorites while sharing samples of moon rocks and meteorites, followed by an open conversation, Q&A and telescope viewing.

Presenter Bio: Pranvera Hyseni is a PhD student in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Santa Cruz. Renowned for her pioneering work in advocating for STEM education worldwide, she is the founder of Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo (AOK) - the largest non-profit outreach program in Eastern Europe. AOK impacts the lives of over 25,000 people annually, and her exceptional contributions to the field have earned her recognition as one of the five most influential women in the Republic of Kosovo. Hyseni's PhD research involves studies of organic compositions of hydrated asteroids and cometary surfaces through advanced spectroscopy techniques and meteorite samples in the lab.