Photo courtesy of Anna Maria College via Get Archive
By Sarah Grinnell ’26
Science and Environment Editor
Aspiring student astronomers, physicists or simply appreciative stargazers need not gaze out into the infinities of space through a telescope to find the perfect extracurricular activity — an out-of-this-world option is available in ASTRO, the new campus astronomy club.
The group is becoming an official student organization this semester, according to ASTRO Club President Abbey Hazen ’24.
In an interview with the Mount Holyoke News, Hazen explained that what is now ASTRO had consisted of “informal groups” set up to observe the skies over the past year. The club’s existence was solidified last year when the astronomy department purchased its first Unistellar eVscope 2 Telescope, “making student observation more accessible than it has ever been.” Now, it will officially become a recognized campus organization this semester.
“Making an official organization helps to support the existing network of dedicated and talented Mount Holyoke astronomers,” Hazen said. While the club is still in its early stages, Hazen has no shortage of plans for its future. They mentioned goals to hold events such as open houses, telescope training and a group observation of the total solar eclipse to come in April, as well as possible “guest speakers, movie nights and specialty observations.”
Aside from the club itself, they also have ambitions to revive its storied meeting space, the John Payson Williston Observatory.
“I hope to catalog and preserve the historic Williston Observatory, creating a path forward for student involvement in that space. It is the oldest academic building on campus and provides a unique opportunity for learning,” Hazen said.
Hazen continued, communicating their “hope to revitalize the space and create resources for student research,” as well as “work with the astronomy and physics department” — such as their faculty advisor, Thomas Burbine — “to host special events to promote the incredible history and opportunity the observatory holds.”
While a science-based club can seem daunting to those outside the discipline, club member Maya Elliott ’27 is here to assure prospective members that “being in the ASTRO Club takes away the academic pressure” from studying astronomy.
“It’s a place where everyone there shares an excitement for the same ideas and can discuss their ideas about stars and eclipses and planets without fear of not sounding smart or knowledgeable enough,” she explained in an interview with the Mount Holyoke News. She highlighted that she believes many members are not majoring in astronomy or science in general.
Instead, the board and current members intend for ASTRO to simply be a space to share in a collective fascination with the wonders of the skies. Hazen emphasized that “the club is welcome to anyone who loves space.”
In Elliot’s view, stargazing has a lot to offer besides the academic aspect.
“I’ve found some of my favorite moments in my life to be when I was lying on the grass and watching meteor showers, discussing with friends about all the possibilities in space,” she said. “Even if you aren’t interested in the more in-depth science-based parts of astronomy, I have yet to meet someone who didn’t have their breath taken away from seeing the planets or the craters of the moon with their own eyes.”
According to Hazen, the potential for community building — such as by bringing people with different academic backgrounds together, as well as from both on-campus and within the broader local area — is one of the club’s greatest strengths. Hazen says there is no dearth of interest in astronomy on campus, as many students have already “expressed interest and asked how they can help get the organization off the ground.”
“I know that ASTRO will become a positive community on campus that will serve to educate and inspire Mount Holyoke students and our amazing local community,” Hazen said, describing their hopes to share the discipline’s “rich history at Mount Holyoke” with students and professors as well as community members via open houses.
“Having open houses has already contributed to the community. Prospective students have been so excited to get tours, [and] local community members bring their kids to learn about space,” they said.
Elliot believes a club like this is especially important given the fact that, despite the observatory being the oldest still-standing academic building on campus, its role in the community has gone largely uncelebrated.
“It has a rich history and in a world where those who aren’t cis[gender] men have been severely underrepresented in the science industry, our college having our own observatory along with powerful science programs is so important,” Elliot said. This empowerment of marginalized voices in STEM is something that ASTRO members hope to further by offering additional spaces to explore these topics, Elliot explained.
Thanks to the resources of the Williston Observatory, students also have access to special equipment such as the Alvan Clark Equatorial Refractor Telescope. Hazen said this access “has given [them] a huge amount of confidence as an observer as well as a presenter for open house.”
So why join the astronomy club? According to Elliot, studying the stars can give students a new perspective on life.
“My favorite part of astronomy is how you can escape the constant ‘grounded-ness’ of being on Earth by exploring the vast possibilities of space,” she said. “When you look through a telescope, you have to be able to imagine this whole new idea of what exists beyond our comparatively small world, where matter itself acts differently depending on where it is, and I love the sort of thought process and creativity that comes with it.”
Even if students do not intend to pursue astronomy through academics, Elliot stresses that “through learning about space and observing the planets and stars around us, we can learn about time, matter and how everything within the universe reacts to its surroundings.”
Hazen echoed this statement by encouraging students on the fence to take the leap into the club. “To anyone that is even considering joining the ASTRO or the astronomy department, do it. It is so much fun and such a great community.”
As the astronomy club expands — which is likely, thanks to its new status as an official organization on campus — Hazen hopes that the already lively interest in astronomy on campus will only grow with it, inspiring future generations of astronomy enthusiasts to come.