Dickinson’s Astronomy Club has a clear mission: to foster the community’s interest in the sky and the stars.
“Our goal is to make people take an interest in astronomy and to offer them the opportunity to learn more about it,” explained Kaylin Bednarz ’15, the president of the college’s club.
“We have an awesome planetarium, but some students do not even know it exists,” said Julie Ashton ’15, vice-president of the club. “We also have several kinds of telescopes, like a solar telescope which allows you to look straight at the sun during daytime and see sun spots.”
While much of the club’s activities are based around studying the stars and sky, the members are no strangers to a bit of entertainment.
The club often hosts Star Parties, events that revolve around viewing videos before going up to the roof of the Tome Hall Planetarium for a viewing, weather permitting.
According to Bednarz, the next Star Party will be in March and will hopefully include a viewing of the comet PANSTARRS. The event, like all Star Parties, will be open to the Dickinson and Carlisle community.
“Many students come to the parties, but we also get a lot of families and children,” noted Ashton.
Alongside the Star Party is Astrofest, an annual event that expands the Star Party theme with special planetarium shows, activities and games, according to Bednarz.
Last year the event drew over 500 people, according to the club’s records.
Parties are not the only way in which the Astronomy Club is involved in the community.
“We help some elementary and middle schools both in Carlisle and Harrisburg with their science fairs and Astronomy Days,” Ashton said.
Another important activity for the club is camping trips.
“Last semester we went to a national dark site in Northern Pennsylvania,” recalled Bednarz. “I think we should go out more often and use out equipment in real settings.”
Camping trips are one of the things new member Silvana Kreines ’16 enjoys the most about the club.
“I joined the club because I have always been interested in astronomy,” said Kreines. “I am even thinking about getting a minor [in astronomy].”
While many members had an interest early on, some who later joined the club became interested in astronomy through courses and requirements at Dickinson.
“I took astronomy as a requirement and I loved it,” explained Ashton. “When my professor told me about the club I decided to join.”
The Astronomy Club meets every Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. in Tome.
“You don’t need to know about astronomy to come to the meetings,” said Bednarz. “We don’t do [math or physics] problems; we just learn fun stuff about what is going on in the astronomy world.”
