Written by Maleah Holder
On April 8th, 2024, the world went dark. Birds soared across a 360-degree sunset as spectators below craned their necks up to the sky to see that the sun had been blotted out by the moon. The solar eclipse is often referred to as a once-in-a-lifetime event, but for many, it became twice.
After the 2017 eclipse left viewers hungering for more, families, photographers and astronomers gathered in preparation for the next event, leading to thousands gathering under the black hole sun in April despite the heat and cloud cover.
The experience drew in massive crowds from all around the world to view even the partial eclipse in hopes of witnessing the event with loved ones. Strangers became friends after being invited to view through astronomers’ telescopes, and families were drawn closer in an unpredicted way.
However, one such group of astronomers local to Chattanooga, Tennessee knew they could build their community efforts during the eclipse and formed viewing parties for families and friends to participate in. Hidden in a thick coat of woods, the small observatory that houses Barnard Astronomical Society (BAS) is home to passionate astronomers who were delighted not only to witness the solar spectacle but to offer their services to strangers in hopes of drawing the community together.
Speaking to Mike Maddalena, the publicity chair of BAS, he states, “[Viewing parties are] mostly people from BAS, but we encourage people to bring their own equipment…we can show them how to use it properly and get more enjoyment out of it.”
The Sequatchie County viewing party on April 8th was hosted by Maddalena and open to anyone interested in witnessing the event with the community through a telescope. Over the course of the day, Maddalena says they reached about 100 visitors.
Maddalena is typically engaged in community outreach within BAS and has made the events hosted more accessible to people in surrounding counties who may never otherwise witness the beauty of the sky above us. His outreach has hit almost 300 people in the year since taking the star parties to Sequatchie and Dunlap counties.
One such participant named Faviola Stewart, originally from Costa Rica, came to the Sequatchie County viewing party and stated, “…I have my three little ones from 18 months to 8 years old, here just trying to show them a new experience.”
Stewart witnessed the 2017 solar eclipse at totality in Idaho but wanted this eclipse to be a shared experience with her children. She is not the only one to have had the same idea.
At a similar party in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, hundreds of people showed up to view the eclipse in totality toting along friends, children, and families. Although many locals participated in the event, even more were from various parts of Tennessee, other states, or from elsewhere around the world.
Astronomers and photographers seeking out celestial events like this have created a tight-knit community open to all who want to enjoy life a little bit more through the lens of a telescope or camera. Anywhere a camera or telescope was set up, children and other enthusiasts were bound to follow in hopes of sharing the joy and excitement of the world going dark, and despite the darkness, smiles were bright all around.
Solar Serenade
Written by Alexis McMurtry
Families and astronomers alike sat under the cloudy skies of Sequatchie Valley, waiting for an opening to see a phenomenon that hasn’t happened since 2017; a total solar eclipse.
The day seemed gloomy as rain poured down on viewers and lightning struck from behind the clouds covering the start of the eclipse.
The Barnard Astronomical Society (BAS) of Chattanooga held hope that the clouds would part and the partially covered sun would peek through.
The BAS sponsored the viewing party, bringing along a telescope with a solar lens and an EAA SeeStar, an electronically assisted astrophotography instrument.
The Barnard Astronomical Society of Chattanooga has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1923. The society was established by a group of amateur astronomers who shared a passion and wanted to create a community where they could share their knowledge and enthusiasm with others. Over the years, the society has grown in membership and activities, becoming a prominent organization in the region’s astronomical community.
“Last year we did our first BAS event in Santa Clara County at the Tennessee tree toppers, hang gliding ramp overlooking all of Dunlap and Sequatchie County, we probably had two to 300 people come through. And it was great to get that reach to the people in Dunlap and Sequatchie County,” Mike Madallena, the Publicity Chair for BAS said.
One of the society’s primary objectives is education, and it has been actively involved in outreach programs aimed at schools, libraries, and other community organizations. Members of the society frequently organize public observing events, lectures, and workshops to engage people of all ages in the wonders of the universe.
“It’s people coming and looking through the telescope up close and saying ‘oh, wow’. That initial engagement of that wow factor, like the wow factor for me was when I first saw Saturn through a telescope, seeing the actual rings, and you can see it online, you can see it in a book, but to physically see it with your own eye, is completely different,” Madallena said. “That’s what we like when the kids and the adults come up. When they look through that telescope and see the sun and the moon up close, and they just go, ‘wow’, that’s what we love.”
The society has an impressive array of resources for its members, including access to telescopes, observatories, and educational materials. Regular meetings provide opportunities for members to share their experiences, learn from guest speakers, and participate in discussions about the latest developments in astronomy.
“We do start parties every month we do events in Sequatchie County and Hamblen County, and we have events where people can come and look at telescopes, trial telescopes, bring their telescopes that they can’t figure out and people will show them how to use them,” Madallena said.
Throughout its history, the Barnard Astronomical Society has remained true to its mission of fostering a love of astronomy and providing opportunities for people to explore the mysteries of the cosmos. Its dedication to education, outreach, and community engagement has made it a vital institution in the Chattanooga area and beyond.
“When we have these viewing parties, I get so set on steering people to the telescope and people viewing and moving the telescope to keep the object in view,” Madallena said. “I had a break and I stopped and looked around. And that’s when I noticed cars were parked down the highway and parked up the highway. And there was, you know, people just all over the place up there that came together for that event that was I enjoyed that. Step back and take it all in.”
Meet the Storytellers
Maleah Holder is a senior communication major with an anthropology minor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Holder has experience as a section editor of Rising Rock and is proficient in writing, editing, and social media management. She frequently works with nature conservation organizations to support and spread awareness of responsible eco-tourism and promotes such things in her work as a writer. As such she intends to go into outdoor journalism after completion of her degree. If you would like to support conservation efforts with Maleah Holder, contact her at maleahholder@gmail.com.
Koleby Gilbert is a senior at UTC with a double major in Art History and Communication. He is currently working as a staff photographer for both The Echo and Rising Rock, as well as being an archive specialist at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. His passions lie in photography, graphic design, art and research. After graduating with a B.S. in Communication and B.A. in Art History, he looks to pursue a career in multimedia journalism. He is rooted in Chattanooga and its surrounding communities, always looking for ways to connect through collaborative storytelling and art advocacy. To inquire, collaborate, or simply have a chat with Gilbert, he can be reached at kolebygilbert@icloud.com.
Caleb McCool is a visual storyteller with extensive experience in documentary photography. He is a senior communication major with a minor in creative writing at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Through imagery, he enjoys connecting the viewer with the world around them, allowing ordinary people to share extraordinary stories. Caleb has worked on independent projects and enjoys the process of using and developing film, providing a unique appreciation for photojournalism. He seeks out opportunities to expand his skillset through work with The Echo, Photojournalism, and now Rising Rock with intentions to pursue a career in this field after college. To contact Caleb, email him at kwn795@mocs.utc.edu.
Sammy McKenzie is a driven photojournalist with a mission to capture others in their truest form as well as help tell stories through meaningful imagery. She gets to accomplish this goal through her position as the photo editor for The University Echo. Outside of photojournalism, Mckenzie has built her own photography business specializing in portraits and wedding photography starting in 2019. McKenzie has found a passion for storytelling in a journalistic style through her involvement with the Echo, Rising Rock, and photojournalism. McKenzie is set to graduate in May 2024 with a degree in Communication. Upon graduation, McKenzie hopes to seek a career where she can stay behind the camera. To view more of her portraiture work visit her website at www.sammymckenzie.com. To contact and connect with McKenzie, reach out through email at sammymckenzie@icloud.com.
Alexis McMurtry is a junior attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as a communication major with minors in psychology and women, gender, sexuality studies. Alexis has experience working with the Echo where she has developed skills in photo editing, leading, and photography. Her passions lie in photojournalism, where she captures the minor moments that make a memory whole. She desires to use her knowledge of photojournalism to share the hidden moments on the edges of society and give life to those that lost it. To see your moments from her lens, reach out at wzv284@mocs.utc.edu.
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