Crescents over Rockefeller. 4:20 p.m., Rockefeller Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave., 773-702-2100, free. Those attending will ascend the Carillon Tower over the chapel to witness a crescent moon and the beginning of a new Lunar month.
Counter Cinema/Counter Media: Invisible Adversaries. 5 p.m., 5811 S. Ellis Ave., room 307. For more information, contact the Film Studies Center, 773-702-8596.
Gentle Yoga. 4-5 p.m., Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave., 773-702-2100, free.
Film Screening and Discussion. “The Island President.” Harper Memorial Library, Room 140, 1116 E. 59th St. 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM Douglas R. MacAyeal, of the Department of the Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago, will speak at this screening of the 2011 film. For more information, contact the Human Rights Program, 773-834-0957.
Off the Edge: Party at the Smart. 8 p.m., Smart Museum of Art, 5550 S. Greenwood Ave., 773-702-0200, smartmuseum.uchicago.edu, free. U. of C. students are invited to explore galleries with friends to find copies of artworks on view, adhere these reproductions to a giant stretch of drawing paper, and then draw in the gaps to(…)
Discussion. 6-8 p.m., DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th St., 773-947-0600, dusablemuseum.org, $10. Prominent historian and author Lerone Bennett, Jr. discusses issues relating to the Civil War and its aftermath in the wake of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. To R.S.V.P., call 773-947-0600, ext. 290.
Author Talk. 6-7:15 p.m., Seminary Co-op Bookstore, 5751 S. Woodlawn Ave., 773-752-4381, semcoop.com. University of Chicago biology professor Neil Shubin presents following the Jan. 8 release of his new book, “The Universe Within: Discovering the Common History of Rocks, Planets and People.”
Lecture. “The Origins and Development of Mosaic Art in the Ancient Middle East from 8th Century B.C. to A.D.” 7 p.m., Oriental Institute, 1155 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL., 773-702-9507, oi.uchicago.edu, free. Konstantinos D. Politis Chairperson, Hellenic Society for Near Eastern Studies, presents. Register at oimlpolitis.eventbrite.com.