The BYU Astronomical Society hosts documentary watch parties every Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. during BYU’s spring term.
Held in the Eyring Science Center Planetarium near South Campus, the watch parties consist of perusing the club’s DVD collection, picking a documentary and then having a post-watch discussion.
The shows are open to all members of the club and are free of charge.
The club attracts attendees of all majors and interests, including club member Brady Call.
“It’s my first time going to a club event,” Call said.
While some attendees are new, others are a little more acquainted with the club.
Longtime club member and astrobiology major Russell Lee said that spring and summer terms have lower attendance, while fall and winter semesters bring more attendees to the club.
The astronomy society is one of the few clubs still meeting during the spring semester at BYU, and offers a relaxed, smaller club experience.
This correlation, however, is to be expected. BYU’s student population as a whole drops dramatically during spring and summer terms.
The planetarium has long hosted the club’s events, with public showings of other films and videos for a small fee.
Joining the club also offers benefits beyond using the expansive planetarium.
The club has long offered weekly stargazing opportunities on the roof of the Eyring Science Center, utilizing specialized telescopes to view the dark sky.
Animation major Becca Ellingson enjoys the stargazing part of the club experience.
“Using the telescopes is probably the coolest part,” Ellingson said.
She also explained that certain telescopes have tracking functions, allowing the viewer to steadily view moving celestial objects.
Lee added that he also likes to use the society’s telescopes.
“Jupiter looks really cool using the telescopes. The moon does too,” Lee said.
Beyond the campus observatory deck, the society has taken various field trips, seeking opportunities to peer at the cosmos from multiple places off campus.
Some of these excursions include visiting southern Utah’s Little Sahara Recreational Area to stargaze and going to Bryce Canyon for astrophotography.
The club also hosts an annual winter gala, celebrating the year’s accomplishments with food, formal dress and astronomical activities.
Besides observing the universe, the club’s goals are fourfold: to educate, to improve BYU’s planetarium and observatory facilities, to help club members grow in their knowledge and to foster research interest and involvement.
These goals drive the activities that the society hosts, from formal galas to laid-back documentary watch parties.
To join the club, interested individuals must be full-time BYU students (graduate or undergraduate) in good academic standing. BYU faculty and staff are also welcome.
The weekly watch parties will continue in the planetarium until August 6, 2026.