New astronomy club shoots for the stars

Students interested in looking at the rings of Saturn or the moons of Jupiter, but don't have time to take an Astronomy class, now have a new option. College junior Aldo Adriazola and College senior Scott McKinney, are forming the University's first-ever astronomy club. The club will be open to all students interested in astronomy. "I'm a student in Astronomy 1," Adriazola said. "I went to the observatory one evening, and I was really intrigued by what I saw." Students enrolled in Astronomy 1 are required to attend at least one observatory session at either the observatory on the roof of David Rittenhouse Laboratory or the University's Flower and Cook Observatory in Malvern. While at the DRL observatory, Adriazola became interested in looking at objects other than the two normally shown to beginning students -- the Orion Nebula and the surface of the moon. Adriazola said the teaching assistant on duty that evening, David Mestre, suggested that he "look into possibility of forming an astronomy club." Mestre said that the astronomy club at his college had "a lot to do," which is why he continued to study astronomy. "I've been really interested in getting an astronomy club started for undergraduates on campus," he explained. "I was very excited when I found an undergrad who was enthusiastic, knew how to get the ball rolling and who could see the possibilities of an astronomy club at Penn." Mestre added he would like to see the students help construct more programs in astronomy at the University for students. "I'd like to see the club get involved in developing programs for undergraduates that will use the observatory -- things that will go beyond assignments in Astronomy classes," Mestre said. Physics and Astronomy Professor Steven Myers will also be advising the fledgling club. "I think it's just a way to get together and share my background and what my interests are," he said. "I can certainly take care of the interface between the club and the Department of Physics and Astronomy." The Astronomy Department merged with the Physics Department in 1994 to form the Department of Physics and Astronomy. After Adriazola posted information about the club on a number of University newsgroups, he got around 15 responses from interested students, he said. "Stargazing has such a broad appeal that I think they won't have any trouble finding members," Mestre added. And co-founder McKinney said the high level of interest is a positive sign for the future of astronomy at Penn. "If that kind of interest were to continue, some good things would be done at the observatory," he said. "For example, the observatory at Malvern could be open to students at a more regular time," McKinney added. "And we might get new telescopes and renovations." According to Adriazola, the University's astronomical equipment is "kind of old" -- so the club is interested in purchasing a new telescope and camera. The group is also planning field trips to the planetarium at the Franklin Institute and the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., he added. Mestre said he would like to see the club get Student Activities Council recognition, which would help them obtain funding for their projects. For the time being, the club will be charging dues from their members, Adriazola said. "But we're not going to do anything extravagant right now," he added quickly.