With new star parties, evening events where students gather under the night sky to observe and learn about the stars and planets, Astronomy Club has bounced back in the new year.

In addition to hosting gatherings, one of Astronomy Club’s goals is to foster an environment where students can learn how to explore the wonders of the universe through telescopes with experienced guidance.

Regarding a recent star party hosted by Astronomy Club on Jan. 23, Libby Hansen ‘25, a student leader, said, “We were looking at Saturn, Jupiter and Venus and [saw] the rings on Saturn … up close. [It was] pretty incredible.”

During star parties, Karl Schmidt, a physics teacher and the faculty adviser of Astronomy Club spends time teaching students to use the telescope. 

Rather than just simply observing the features of outer space, Schmidt said his “goal [is] for students in the club to know how to use the telescopes themselves.”

Zach Cummins ‘26, another leader of Astronomy Club said that the telescope completely outperforms images he has seen online. 

“Seeing [stars and planets] through the telescope and how much detail you can see [such as] craters and color … is really surreal,” Cummins said. 

As a fourth-year member of Astronomy Club, Hansen mentioned that she has had many amazing experiences with Astronomy Club, including the “eclipse trip,” where students had the opportunity to visit Paris, Texas, in April to see the solar eclipse in totality.

While these astronomical off-campus trips are really amazing, “there are always stars and planets up there,” Schmidt said. You never have to wait around to observe astronomy in action.

While some sit in their comfortable, furnished homes, sleeping or catching up on work with the stars above them, Astronomy Club gives students the opportunity to interact with that world above.

“In our modern lives we spend very little time in the dark, and we don’t do that intentionally,” Schmidt said. “[When we step outside at night,] it’s a nice pause. It’s a different feeling to be like, ‘I’m intentionally being outside in the dark and looking at nature and the stars.’”

Cummins noted how Astronomy Club curates awesome discussions while facilitating learning for everyone involved.  

“[It’s] not just a general hangout spot,” said Cummins.