Seeing Stars

There are few things more romantic and intriguing than the night sky filled with stars: sometimes hidden from view but always present, far away and mysterious, shimmering and inviting. Countless stories are inspired by the constellations, countless travels navigated by using the stars in the sky, countless romantic feelings professed in the light of the moon. 

Why are the stars so romantic and so inspiring? Why do they appeal to the imagination so strongly, and what other stories are out there? Come to the Observatory to find out! We’ll watch two short films, Stars and O Seeker, focusing on non-western perspectives on astronomy, sexuality and the origin myth, and discuss these topics with Namibian researcher and expert on community-based and astrotourism Sisco Auala. Afterwards we will go stargazing on the rooftop of the Huygensgebouw using the Radboud University Observatory telescopes. 

Dr. Sisco Auala is a Senior Researcher at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. She works with Indigenous communities to revive rich astronomical traditions and is helping position Namibia as a leader in dark sky preservation and Indigenous Astronomical Knowledge. Her research shows how Dark Sky Tourism can bring economic benefits to rural communities and support sustainable development. Dr. Auala is a member of the African Astronomical Society, serves on international editorial boards, and was recently honored with the 2025 International Dark Sky Defender Award for Africa.

This programme is organised in collaboration with the Astrophysics department of the Radboud University.