Sophomore Sophie Saibi first learned about the James Webb Space Telescope and its remarkable ability to capture stunning images of the universe in seventh grade. From that moment on, she became deeply fascinated by outer space. Over the next two years, Saibi began regularly observing the night sky using her own telescope alongside her father, immersing herself in astronomical research.
Over this past summer, Saibi decided to start her own astronomy club in hopes of sharing her passion with others. The club currently has about 20 members.
“I really hope that even though astronomy is kind of niche and the equipment is really expensive, I can make it accessible to more people by providing materials for club members,” Saibi said. “Pinewood’s field is a great place to conduct observations at night, and I thought that creating this astronomy club would be a great opportunity for those interested in astronomy.”
Sophomore Nona Brozell, an active member of the club, said she’s excited she joined.
“I’ve always been interested in astronomy, but I never really had a place where I could learn about it before,” Brozell said. “Astronomy club offered a place where I could learn about something I was passionate about while being in the company of my friends.”
In the club’s monthly meetings, Saibi plans to arrange guest speaker events, presentations, and observation nights on the Pinewood field. At the first astronomy club meeting, Saibi invited Franck Marchis, a senior planetary astronomer and chair of the exoplanet group at the Search for Extraterrestrial Institute (SETI), to discuss the institute’s search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence. The SETI Institute aims to research life beyond Earth further.
“Although people often think about aliens, they don’t really ever stop to think about where we are in the process of discovering aliens,” Brozell said.
On Nov. 8, Saibi invited Tom Esposito, an assistant researcher at UC Berkeley and a researcher at the SETI Institute, to discuss cosmic cataclysms and supernovae.
In addition to hosting guest speakers and observation nights, Saibi also aims to organize field trips to observatories. Through these meetings, Saibi hopes to not only increase students’ interest in astronomy but also to unite members under a common passion.
“Astronomy can really give everyone a bigger picture of the world,” Saibi said. “You don’t need to come in knowing a lot about astronomy — it’s for anyone who’s curious about exploring these concepts.”
