Founded in 1982, KUAAA has been promoting amateur astronomy to Korea University students for the past 40 years. KUAAA explores the night sky through various activities, including regular monthly observations outside of Seoul, academic seminars, field trips, and irregular observations. The experience of seeing stars once hidden by the city lights awakens us to the wonders of the universe.

What led you to look up at the night sky?

Tae-woon: I grew up outside of the city, so I could see the stars every night. In high school, in my earth science class, I was often captivated by the wonder of the universe, and had a sense of awe that comes from seeing its vastness. Observing the universe directly is like quietly peering into the infinite.

Ki-joo: I loved astronomy in high school. But while studying electronic engineering in college, I couldn’t get into it anymore, so I wanted to continue exploring it through student club activities.

Won-jun: I remember reading almost every astronomy book in the school library in middle school. At the time, I often spent hours thinking about newly learned theories. Now I’m someone who says, “Winter is my favorite season because I can see so many bright stars then.” I once climbed a mountain at night to see the Orion Nebula with my naked eye, and I also stayed on the rooftop of my academy for hours to see the Andromeda Galaxy. To me, stars are like precious friends who have been with me since childhood.

Jeong-in: I’ve loved astronomy documentaries like Cosmos since I was a child, and my interest in space led me to study physics in college. It was natural for me to apply to KUAAA.

Ha-young: I lived in a foreign country for a while during my childhood, and I was impressed by the stars I could see every winter morning while waiting for the school bus. After returning to Seoul, I had almost given up on seeing that kind of sky again, but through KUAAA activities, I wanted to see the star-filled night sky again and feel healed.

What are your memories of your first stargazing through a telescope?

Tae-woon: It’s hard to describe the awe I felt when Jupiter, the brightest object in the night sky, appeared right before my eyes. It was the moment when I realized the fact that science explains the truth.

Won-jun: When I was in middle school, I bought my first, precious telescope to see the stars. That day, I was so excited that I assembled and dissembled the telescope three times (laughs). The first thing I saw with it was the moon. It had seemed the same every month, but it looked completely different through the telescope. Each of its rugged craters and the structure of its oceans were clearly visible.

Jeong-in: I saw Mars, and the dense patterns on it looked bigger than I thought, so I realized it was close.

Gicheongje and making a Clear Sky Doll; That star is your star: KUAAA’s special tradition

Tae-woon: We have a KUAAA Night, when everyone from the original members from the 1980s to recent graduates gather together. Singing our club’s official song Two Little Stars together creates a sense of kinship.

Won-jun: We hold a Gicheongje ritual where people pray for clear skies, and serve sun-related foods (eg. Capri Sun Chips) on the ritual table. We also have a Clear Sky Doll making contest, water gun play, and watermelon hwachae making and eating.

Jeong-in: In the club there is a culture of not drinking while observing the sky. This is to prevent equipment damage, so it’s nice because anyone can participate without feeling pressured.

What celestial body impressed you the most?

Tae-woon: The Winter Hexagon and the Summer Triangle constellations. The stars in them serve as important guides when viewing the night sky during both winter and summer. I used to think there were just a lot of stars, but once I learned about these star patterns, the sky looked like a huge picture.

Ki-joo: It’s the Summer Triangle, consisting of Vega, Deneb, and Altair. It was impressive to see the Milky Way passing over it.

Won-jun: It’s the Orion Nebula. After hours of searching and struggling, I finally could see it through my telescope. With a sense of excitement that I was seeing a real nebula, I felt like I had become closer to the universe.

Jeong-in: The Milky Way was the most impressive for me. Since it can only be seen with the naked eye when all conditions are almost perfect, it feels even more precious. When I first saw countless stars spread out like long ribbons, I was amazed that we were living beneath them.

Do you have any tips for viewing the stars clearly at night?

Ki-joo: You need to choose a place with as little light pollution as possible. If there are a lot of bright lights around, it is hard to see the stars. The best date to observe them is a day of Sag each month, when there is no moon. In terms of the best time, you should observe the stars after astronomical twilight. When the sun has set far enough below the horizon, the stars are most visible.

Joeng-in: Winter is the best time for observation because of its clear skies and dry air. In the East, only very bright stars are visible, but with long telescope exposures, we can take Deep Sky photos that capture even dark celestial bodies. We often use the rooftop for this.

Tae-woon: Dark adaptation is important. Flash off and adjusting the brightness on your phone are essential.

Won-jun: We can see more stars using our peripheral vision. Since our eyes are more sensitive to light in the dark at the periphery of our vision than at the center, we can see even faint stars better if we look slightly to the side rather than straight on at them. Conversely, if we want to see the exact color of a star, it is better to look straight at it with our central vision.

Can you tell us some interesting episodes from your stargazing?

Tae-woon: We usually have regular observation meetings in Cheorwon or on Ganghwa Island. Because they are near the Military Demarcation Line, the sound of the North Korean broadcasts waft across like the mutterings of a ghost. I remember the story of the older students fleeing the rooftop after hearing that. This is an episode that shows the unique nighttime atmosphere and minor fears that can be experienced at KUAAA.

Ki-joo: Last September, after a regular observation meeting, the bus didn’t arrive at the stop we were waiting at to go home. Thankfully, we got a ride in the back of a local old lady’s truck, and were able to arrive on time for the train.

Won-jun: We were riding in the back of the truck, feeling the wind.

Jeong-in: Right after class, we rented a car and went to Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, to see the stars. It was a busy schedule where we had to go back to school the next day, but we had fun listening to music together on the way there.

Why did you fall in love with KUAAA?

Tae-woon: There are many romantic and warm people in KUAAA. Its greatest charm is that we can connect with each other by sharing our feelings about the stars, rather than through calculations and theories.

Ki-joo: We can enjoy it without any knowledge of math or physics. It is really fun to take pictures and appreciate them together.

Won-jun: This is a place where you can make friends. It makes us feel connected under the same sky.

Jeong-in: It is nice to get to know each other by talking about unusual topics like whether aliens exist, looking at the night sky together.

What kind of celestial body are you like?

Tae-woon: The orange Antares, the heart of Scorpio. It burns bright and passionately, just like my personality.

Ki-joo: Aldebaran. It isn’t the brightest but has a distinct color, and I want to have my own color just like it.

Won-jun: Quasar 3C273. It is actually very bright as it was formed in the early days of the universe, but it is not easy to observe it because of its distance from Earth. Just like it, I hope that my light, even if not right now, will reach far away as a meaningful light someday.

Jeong-in: Betelgeuse, the brightest star in the Orion constellation and not far from a supernova explosion. Just like this star that lives by squeezing out every last bit of strength, I am the type of person who pushes myself to achieve anything I want in order to find what I truly like.

Ha-young: Comets. They are also called “traveler stars” because they appear and disappear abruptly like travelers. I am just like them because I have a motto of “just going with the flow.” Physics Professor Kim Sang-wook said that death is the most natural state in the universe, where atoms briefly gather to form a strange state called life before dispersing again. It seems that both celestial bodies and humans are similar in that they consist of atoms, stay in an excited state for a while, and then return to their original forms.

Why should someone join KUAAA?

Tae-woon: Whether it is a love of science, an emotional passion, or simply a desire to blanky gaze at the sky, KUAAA welcomes all of those sentiments. So, it is the perfect club for those who want to enjoy things at their own pace. If you are curious, just visit us. The stars are always there, and KUAAA is right next to them.

Ki-joo: The beauty of viewing the night sky lies in the opportunity to look into different time zones simultaneously. Isn’t that mystical? I hope you too can find your own romanticism at KUAAA.

Won-jun: All you need is a love for the stars. KUAAA is always awaiting you, just like the wide open universe.

Jeong-in: Since our club belongs to the Aegineung student clubs, most of our members are from the College of Engineering. However, there are also many of liberal arts students, so you will be able to meet people from various departments. I highly recommend our club!