Upper School Astronomy Students Explore the Stars at Anza-Borrego

Ten Upper School astronomy students journeyed beyond the classroom last week for an overnight camping trip at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park where they explored the night sky, identified constellations, and discussed the stories that have connected people to the stars throughout history.

​

The park, recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, provided an immersive field experience. Dr. Stephanie Capen, St. Margaret’s director of institutional research and Upper School astronomy teacher, said Anza-Borrego’s exceptionally dark skies made it an ideal place for celestial observation with the guidance of a local astronomer.

​

The experience kicked off a unit called Wayfinding: Stars and Storytelling, focused on how people have used the stars to navigate and understand their place in the universe. Upper School students studied how Earth’s rotation and orbit make stars appear to move, and how the night sky shifts depending on where observers are located.

​

Under Anza-Borrego’s dark skies, Upper School students put concepts into practice. They used telescopes to spot Saturn’s rings, the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way, and identified constellations discussed in class as they watched the sky shift through the night.

“A highlight came as the constellation Orion rose above the horizon. Students identified its brightest stars, including Rigel and Betelgeuse, and watched Orion’s position change through the night,” Dr. Capen said.

The trip also prompted students to consider the cultural meanings of the stars. As part of the unit, they read excerpts from Star Stories: Constellations and People by Anthony Aveni, exploring how communities have interpreted the night sky through stories and tradition.

Lying beneath the stars gave Upper School students a sense of connection to those who gazed skyward centuries ago. “By identifying familiar constellations and considering the stories associated with them across cultures, students gained a greater appreciation for how astronomy and human history intersect,” Dr. Capen said.