Astronomy faculty at Rowan University invite students across campus to witness rare comet from observation deck of Science Hall
If you’ve ever dreamed of stargazing or witnessing rare celestial events, Rowan University is the perfect place to make that dream a reality. Last week the campus hosted an incredible comet viewing event, attracting students, faculty, and local residents to Rowan’s state-of-the-art Science Hall observatory. The comet—so rare that it won’t appear again for another 80,000 years—became the center of excitement as attendees gathered on the rooftop deck for exploration and wonder.
This event piqued the attention of students from a range of science majors, eager to connect what they’ve learned in the classroom with real-world applications. Senior biological sciences major Jack Culleton of Bergen County, NJ, reflected on how awe-inspiring the event was: “It’s kind of cool to be able to look at a lot of things from a broader perspective,” he said. “I don’t own a pair of binoculars or a telescope myself. So it was good to be able to use the resources that the university could provide.”
“Awe” – a theme for the night. Overall, students expressed awe of how much they can see and learn by just looking up at the sky. Between the aurora borealis a few weeks ago from the geomagnetic storm and eclipses students have had ample opportunity recently to learn from the night sky around them.
The university’s astronomy program and observatory, housed under the umbrella of the physics department, also have a lasting impression on students in other science fields.
Associate dean, professor, and observatory coordinator Dr. Eddie Guerra emphasized the significance of the event: “This comet is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we wanted to give our community a chance to experience it. Events like this not only inspire interest in astronomy but also bring people together.”
Dr. Guerra’s research interests include extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. A faculty member at Rowan for more than 25 years, Dr. Guerra is also committed to representation and inclusion in science classrooms, saying, “I have a commitment to diversity in science that includes collaborations with county colleges to recruit Latino students to science programs at Rowan University.”
Rowan University offers these experiential learning experiences for free, ensuring students have access to top-tier resources and learning opportunities. Whether it’s observing meteor showers, planetarium shows, or hands-on research, Rowan’s science programs make sure students gain practical experience.