By Asemay Jumabaeva
ALMATY, Kazakhstan. No Wi-Fi, no city lights, no noise — just students, stars, and silence. The night observation, organized by KIMEP’s Astronomy Club, became more than an academic outing. It was a reminder of what happens when students look up from their screens and find meaning in the vast quiet of the universe.
The group left the university in the evening, traveling through the dark mountain roads. By the time they arrived, the sky was already heavy with stars, stretching endlessly over the plateau. Students set up telescopes and cameras, taking turns to spot constellations, Saturn, and the Milky Way. Some students even encountered falling stars.
“The view was like flying above the city,” said Sabina Tushakova, a first-year journalism student. “It felt like looking down from an airplane — the whole of Almaty glowing beneath us.”
Tushakova joined the AstroClub for more than just curiosity about the sky. “It’s different from other clubs,” she said. “AstroClub connects people outside the university — not just in classrooms. Every trip feels special.”
The event had a touch of everything: science, connection, and even comfort. “The food was delicious, and the organization was top-level,” she said.
Students huddled together, watching the night deepen as temperatures dropped. “We saw shooting stars,” said Aiya Zhumagulkyzy, a first-year international law student. “Everyone gasped at the same time. You forget you’re surrounded by strangers — it suddenly feels like family.”
The atmosphere was calm but filled with excitement. Between telescope turns, students discussed space, photography and social media. Some, like Tushakova, saw the event as a great chance for networking and creative collaboration. “It’s the perfect mix — science, SMM and community,” she said.
For Sarbinaz Jalgasbaeva, a third-year student, the trip was pure energy. “It was so cool, such a vibe,” she said. “I just wish it happened when it’s a little warmer. But honestly, the location was perfect, and the organizers did an amazing job.”
Alsu Kargaeva, a third-year management student, agreed. “Everything was so well organized, and the team was super responsible. The price was unbelievably cheap for everything they provided. The donuts were amazing, the telescopes — mind-blowing, and the whole experience? Just unreal.”
As the night went on, the stars grew brighter and the silence thicker. Some students tried to capture the moment on their phones, but most gave up — the beauty was too vast for a lens.
Around midnight, a cold wind swept across the plateau, and the only sounds left were quiet laughter and the clicking of telescopes.
The AstroClub’s trip to Ush-Konyr wasn’t just about astronomy. It was about stepping away from deadlines and rediscovering connection — with the sky, with others and maybe even with oneself.