VOICES: Meet Luke & Coda, our guides to the stars

Civic Center Conservancy partnered with AstroTours to bring STARGAZE, an “out-of-this-world” experience, to the heart of Denver. Luke Huxley, Coda Lucas, and their team provide hands-on experience using high powered telescopes, binoculars, and lasers in Civic Center Park, so we can view the moon, planets, and stars.  Read our interview to learn what Luke and Coda love about astronomy, why Civic Center Park is perfect for viewing celestial bodies, and what you can expect to see in February’s STARGAZE.

Civic Center Conservancy: What got you interested in astronomy and what have you done with that passion?

Coda Lucas: I’ve been fascinated by the stars for about as long as I can remember.  One of my earliest memories is of my dad waking me up late at night during a long road trip in the middle of nowhere, wrapping me up in his coat and pointing out the Milky Way.  Ever since then I’ve been determined to learn everything I can about those shiny points of light and share that knowledge with others!  I’ve dabbled in a few different iterations of Astronomy education/communication including K-12 outreach trips and teaching a middle school astronomy class, but AstroTours is where I feel most at home.

Luke Huxley: I’ve been starstruck since I was a kid growing up in Denver. My grandpa gave me my first telescope—an old 4-inch Mak-Cassegrain—and I’ve been hooked ever since! I studied physics and astrophysics, traveled to Australia to guide tours under the Southern Hemisphere sky, and eventually came back to Colorado to start AstroTours so I could share that same wonder with others.

CCC: How did you come up with the concept of STARGAZE?

LH: It was a total team effort! The Civic Center Conservancy and I joined forces, wanting to bring an easy, accessible stargazing experience right to the city center. Together, we crafted STARGAZE to showcase that you don’t need a dark sky in the middle of nowhere to have an out-of-this-world experience.

CCC: What should we expect when we go to a STARGAZE event at Civic Center Park? 

LH: We kick things off with a quick intro to the night sky, point out key constellations…after that, you’re free to explore at your own pace—

CL: The STARGAZE events are self-guided adventures to observe our cosmos.  We have a fleet of telescopes trained on planets, stars, and nebula with knowledgeable astronomers on hand to provide a tour of seasonal constellations and answer any questions.

LH: [You] can grab a cozy drink from the Astro Coffee Van and soak in the cosmic vibe too.

CCC: What are the special stars, planets, or other celestial bodies we can expect to see on February 12 and March 5?

CL: This is honestly my favorite time of year for stargazing.  We are spoiled with planets like Venus, Mars and Jupiter, bright stars like Sirius, and the opportunity to peek at the early lives of stars with the Orion Nebula and the Pleiades (a cluster of stars often called the “Seven Sisters”).  The moon will also make an appearance during the evening, providing the opportunity to see something familiar in a new way.  We’ve got a little bit of everything!

CCC: What’s your favorite constellation or solar phenomena?

LH: I have a soft spot for globular clusters—those tight balls of ancient stars are just mind-blowing. But honestly, Earth itself is probably my favorite “celestial body”—we gotta remember how special our own planet is and take care of it!

CL: I will always have a particular fondness for Orion as the very first constellation I ever learned how to find, but my favorite constellation would have to be Cassiopeia.  I love sharing her story with guests and it’s a great way to demonstrate how our perception of the constellations change as we move around the sun.

CCC: What is something people are always surprised to learn about astronomy?

LH: How faint the North Star actually is. Everyone expects it to be super bright, but it’s pretty modest up there. Also, folks are always stunned when they first see Saturn’s rings or the Moon’s craters up close—those views never get old.

CL: I always enjoy people’s reactions when we talk about the immense sizes and distances in astronomy.  It’s one thing to have an abstract understanding that the universe is big, but I can never get enough of that moment when someone really wraps their head around just how big it is.

CCC: What’s your favorite thing about using your telescopes in the Civic Center Park?

LH: It’s right downtown, so we reach a huge crowd that might not usually get to stargaze. Despite the city lights, people still get that jaw-dropping “wow!” moment when they look through the scope. It’s awesome to bring space so close to home.

CL: I’m always amazed by how much we can see, even in the heart of Denver.  Getting to share that wonder with so many people is an incredible experience.

Don’t forget to join us on February 12th, March 5th, and April 9th  for our unforgettable STARGAZE experience right downtown.

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