Constellations and Conversation with Ilene Aronson
Astronomy Club of Asheville
Bernard Arghiere & Linda Fallowes
Ilene, your and your husband Jonathan have a gorgeous home on Sunset mountain, with panoramic views. What first sparked your interest in living in WNC?
It was the WNC beauty of the mountains, the hiking, the arts and the music! We love living in Grove Park because it is so close to downtown activities which we enjoy. Our house, located on a ridge, welcomes sunrises and sunsets. The residents are so friendly (especially with their dogs)
I want to thank you for introducing us to the Astronomy Club of Asheville. You are on the Board and serve as Treasurer. This club is involved in the community and is a non-profit, all volunteer educational organization. Lets start with, what are the best ways to view the night sky in our area?
Get away from the light pollution produced by towns and cities on a clear and moonless night. While the moon is beautiful to observe, many more stars are visible when there is little or no moonlight. Our Blue Ridge Parkway offers fine places to enjoy the night sky on the many overlooks. The club also offers stargazes that are free and open to the public each month. The information on stargazwa is available on our website. see Astroasheville.org
The Astronomy Club has an outstanding Outreach Program, tell us more!
NASA’s Night Sky Network routinely ranks the club among the top five in the nation for outreach. We conduct solar (sun viewing) at local schools and support stargazing events for local non-profit groups at no cost. Our Carolyn Keefe scholarship program every year funds a $5,000. scholarship to selected STEM students at UNCA. We instituted a new Universe Explorer Grant essay contest which awards a telescope package to a local middle or high school student.
Can you give us a few details regarding how the Astronomy Club is funded?
We are funded through annual dues which are quite modest, along with sales of donated, used and refurbished astronomy equipment. We offer private stargazes for various groups on a fee basis. These avenues help fund the previously mentioned scholarship program and club expenses. We receive generous donations from individuals and several grants from the community, including the Rotary Club! The Astronomy Club is one way I give back to our community, as all time is donated with no salary.
The Stargazing event at the Grassland Mt. Observatory was an unforgettable experience. It was like floating beneath an endless celestial canopy. What is your wish for the Asheville community?
My wish is also an invitation. I hope that everyone interested will come out and join us one evening under a beautiful dark and clear sky to enjoy the wonders of our universe like they have probably never seen. Once people experience this, they understand the importance of preserving dark skies while man-made outdoor lighting continues to expand.
What do you feel the night sky teaches us?
It teaches us another part of the rhythm of nature’s seasons. It teaches us patience. It teaches us the vastness of the universe and where we are within it. Most importantly, it teaches us how special Planet Earth is and why humanity should preserve this incredible gift.