By Isabella Cantillano-Sanchez
Members of Cape Cod Cryptids and students from Barnstable High School assemble in the parking lot of Monument Beach. (Isabella Cantillano-Sanchez)
Have you ever wondered if we are alone in the universe? This was the question on the minds of members of Cape Cod Cryptids as well as students from Barnstable High School as they assembled in the parking lot of Monument Beach on April 24, 2026. The collaborative effort between faculty advisor for Cape Cod Cryptids, Professor Tyler Daniels of Cape Cod Community College, and Kirby Smith, science teacher at Barnstable High School, led to an evening of stargazing involving students from both schools. While potential extraterrestrial sightings were at the forefront of everyone’s minds, the expedition ultimately culminated in much more than could have been anticipated. Between observing planets, capturing a nebula, identifying constellations, and catching sight of strange activity in the night sky, it was an evening rife with discovery.
Kirby Smith, who has taught at Barnstable High School for six years, provided multiple telescopes as well as invaluable knowledge about space. Given the fact that one of the science classes he teaches is an astronomy class, he was able to instruct those present on how to operate the telescopes as well as identify what was being seen. With Smith’s help, Jupiter and Venus were located and viewed through the telescopes as well as the moon, a nebula, and star clusters. He informed those present that Jupiter has 95 moons, and that the nebula being seen was the Orion Nebula. Even just seeing the moon through the lens of a telescope was an extraordinary experience. Being able to see something so far away in such detail is unforgettable, and makes one gain an even greater appreciation for something often taken for granted: nature.
While already in awe of the sights seen through the telescopes, there were also lights in the sky that seemingly could not be explained away as belonging to an aircraft. The consensus reached by those present is that aliens likely exist. While aliens are often depicted as threatening in fiction, the revelation that we are probably not alone in the universe is a comforting one to me. As we looked up at the sky throughout the evening I found myself comforted not only by the beauty of space but by the seemingly infinite possibilities it presents.
The most stunning image captured that evening was that of the Orion Nebula using a telescope attached to the Singularity app, which allows you to download the photographs taken by the telescope. To depart the evening with my own collection of images of space was the perfect way to commemorate the experience.
For more images from the expedition, you can visit the club’s Instagram page here. To hear an audio recording of the expedition, you can listen to Professor Tyler Daniels’ podcast here.
