Astronomy Night At Sky Meadows

On September 20, 2025, 20 students departed from Shenandoah University to the scenic Sky Meadows State Park. One aspect that made the night so special was the Northern Virginia Astronomers Club (NOVAC) coming out and setting up high-tech telescopes to share with the park guests, offering students the chance to see the night sky in detail, many had only seen in pictures.

The group was ecstatic when several of our students were approached and interviewed by Emily Calandrelli, the hundredth woman to go to space and host of the television series Xploration Outer Space. Apparently, Shenandoah University and the film crew decided to go stargazing on the same night!

As the sun began to set, students used the last bit of daylight to socialize and explore all the park had to offer. A lot of students enjoyed looking at the wildlife exhibits in the visitors center featuring live native snakes, turtles, and butterflies. It was exciting to see some students point out wildlife on their own, spying a snake camouflaged inside a tree trunk near the grove we set up at, and cows that walked right up to the gate.

A huge number of the students let their inner kid shine as a circle formed, and a game of catch broke out with the fruit of an eastern black walnut tree, and everyone really got to know each other.

Despite the fact that some clouds eventually rolled in, blocking the chance to see many stars, between getting to interact with NOVAC, spotting wildlife, making memories, and being interviewed for a hit TV series, it was a night to remember.