To gain perspective on ones life, sometimes a look skyward into the inky nocturnal abyss is all it takes to realize just how small we really are.

Life is more about just meeting a certain deadline at work, said Dominic Lesnar, the president of the Astronomy Club of Asheville. Its great to see the bigger picture of how the world operates. This is the satisfaction of knowing your place in the universe and seeing how dynamic the natural world is.

The Astronomy Club invited a whole lot of people to look up when it celebrated its second public stargazing event Jan. 24 at UNC Ashevilles Lookout Observatory, a newly christened facility that members hope will bring further interest in the heavens throughout the area. The event drew 175 science lovers an extraordinary 300 people were initially expected and filled a waiting list just as long, but the viewing was delayed a day due to cloudy skies.

On the night of the viewing, weather cleared and visitors were treated to crystal-clear views of Venus, the moon, the Andromeda galaxy and the Orion nebula. Exclamations of ooh and ahh permeated the viewing structure as stargazers young and old took a peekthrough the telescopes.

The club had its first official public stargazing at the new Lookout Observatory facility at the top of the hill on the UNCAcampus on Nov. 14. The January viewing was the first fully publicized event at the observatory, which is complete with warming room and four permanent state-of-the-art telescopes. The building and most of whats in it was funded by the club and shares usage with the university.

Its a 50/50 partnership with the university. They provide the infrastructure, we provide the funding for the equipment, said Lesnar. The interest for a public observatory has always been there; now people can go and be treated to a guided tour of the night sky, all minutes from their homes.

The Astronomy Club has grown from a casual gathering of about 10people half a decadeago to more than 100 members under outgoing President Bernard Arghiere. The primary objective is outreach, educating individuals as well as school groups on the wonders of the universe through talks, gatherings, school events and firsthand observations through some very nice telescopes.

In addition to events at Lookout Observatory, stargazing events are held at public places around Asheville about twice a month, weather permitting.

Thats Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, club member Jim Hornaday pointed out during a recent public club gathering at Tanbark Ridge overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Nope, the brightest star is the sun! shot back another stargazer and club member, Dennis Wilde, from behind his telescope.

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Astronomy Club of Asheville educates, amazes at UNCAs Lookout Observatory