KMS Students Over the Moon About Astronomy Night

Despite the cold snap and the cloudy skies, Students and their families turned out for Astronomy Night on Wednesday. The event brought in several volunteer astronomers from the Astronomical Society of Southern New England (ASSNE) to talk about and demonstrate various aspects of sky gazing. Science teacher Kathleen Podraza organized the event along with volunteer astronomer and ASSNE Treasurer George Huftalen.

Seven high-powered telescopes of varying shapes and sizes – even one that was homemade - were set up in the school’s parking lot for students. Cloud cover obscured all of the sky, but allowed for some hazy viewing of the moon. Students were disappointed about not being able to see Jupiter, one of the brightest objects in our sky this month, but made the best of it.

Eighth grader Haley Goss took a look through the viewfinder and discovered she had actually learned something in Science class.

“I thought it was cool that I could name the type of moon it was,” she said. “I was like, 'That’s a waxing crescent!’”

Another young girl, undoubtedly someone’s little sister, also had a revelation after seeing the moon up close.

“I thought the moon was made of cheese!” she exclaimed.

Inside, students chose among four lectures to attend including, “Telescopes & Binoculars: How They Work for Astronomy,” “Glass & Mirrors,” “Astronomical Imaging” and “Learning the Night Sky: One Bright Guidepost Star at a Time.” Each lecture was taught by an astronomer using overhead visuals and a variety of compelling equipment.

Aidan Votaw and his friends were stimulated by the lectures, judging by the discussion they were having about whether or not something was a complex telescope or a SCT telescope. 

“One thing I learned,” Votaw said, “is it’s easier to see through binoculars than a telescope because of the wider view.”

As part of their astronomy lessons, Potaw and his friends said they studied physics and made a Powerpoint presentation on a string theory experiment for one of their classes, but the experiment was a bust.

 “It didn’t work,” said Alex Ramos, “but science is a lot about failure so that’s okay.”

The evening ended with hot cocoa and cookies in the cafeteria and a viewing of astronomy-related student projects that included everything from 3-D models of the universe to homemade spacesuits. 

“I’m very proud of what they did,” said Podraza. “I’m blown away.”

According to Huftalen, ASSNE's objective is the "educate and inspire." As John Glen may have said once or twice in his life, mission accomplished.