As the Starlab inflates, this simple bubble transforms into a projected galaxy for students to explore and observe, all inside the wrestling room.

The Starlab allows the Astronomy class, a semester-long course taught by science teachers Lisa Chacon and Avery Hardy, to be more hands-on and interactive. This immersive space allows students to practice identifying constellations, look at outer space through different perspectives, explore other planets and observe the night sky from different time periods. “We do different things all the time,” Chacon said. “Some days are more instructional, where we’re just learning about content so that we can apply it. Other days are more lab based, like the Starlab days.”

Thanks to the Starlab, students are able to explore and make observations about the night sky and submit their own data about light pollution to a scientific study. The Globe at Night Campaign is a scientific study that allows students to measure the level of light pollution around the world, so scientists can map out and target the areas most heavily affected by light pollution. “The students talk about how [light pollution] impacts them,” Chacon said. “Then they go out and
measure it.”