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A Fairwood Explorer student looks through a telescope to observe Jupiter and its four Galilean moons during Astronomy Night on January 15.
Fairwood Explorer Turns School Evening Into Starry Discovery During Astronomy Night

With telescopes aimed skyward and families and students shoulder to shoulder, Fairwood Explorer Elementary School welcomed its community into an evening where learning extended beyond the classroom and curiosity set the tone for the school’s annual Astronomy Night, held on January 15.

As the evening unfolded, families connected over pizza and snacks while students explored activities designed to spark wonder and conversation. Outdoors, attention shifted upward as volunteers guided small groups toward views of distant planets and stars, transforming the campus into a place shaped by discovery.

During a hands-on activity, students used paper plates to color scenes representing changes in light, helping them visualize how brightness shifts throughout a 24-hour cycle.

“Astronomy Night is one of my favorite events,” Fairwood Explorer third grader Dylan Fillingham said. “Last year we learned about the constellations, and today I’m creating this art project about the changes between day and night. I can’t wait to show my family.”

The evening was made possible through a long-standing partnership with the San Jose Astronomical Association and its School Star Party program, a relationship nurtured over the years by Principal Rachelle Romander. Program volunteers brought telescopes, binoculars, and specialized viewing tools, allowing students and families to observe Saturn, Jupiter, and other celestial objects. At one station, a volunteer explained to a student that Jupiter is approximately 400 million miles away, prompting a quiet pause and wide eyes.

One of the most popular experiences of the night was the “Text to the Stars” activity. Students wrote short messages and selected a star or planet, including Neptune, Altair, Vega, and Capella. Program volunteers then pointed a laser at each chosen object and explained how long it would take the message to travel through space. One student’s message read, “Thank you for brightening up your world,” a simple line that reflected the sense of imagination and connection shared throughout the evening.

“Astronomy Night is one of many community events we host throughout the school year to bring our Fairwood Explorer community together,” Romander said. “We are grateful to everyone who helps make this event possible. Events like this create moments students remember and strengthen the connections that make our school community so special.

A children’s book about constellations engages a Fairwood Explorer family during Astronomy Night on January 15.