They’re in our homes — in the songs we sing and the titles of movies we watch. 

Constellations float far away, but their stories are often spoken by a family member, a mentor, a neighbour, or nearby stranger, without us knowing.

And Rod DeVries at the young age of four was fascinated by the creations and constellations in the sky, later learning that the Jack and Jill song is about the phases of the moon and the Beetlejuice movie is named after the star Betelgeuse.

With a suitcase of curiosity and a stack of questions, he’s read thousands of pages to learn the atmosphere. Dozens of books sit on his wooden shelf in his observatory. And he’s gone from having one microscope as a child, to now 14 telescopes in his viewing room, from reflecting (mirror), refracting (glass lens), and catadioptric (mirror and glass lens).

He’s traveled internationally to experience once-in-a-lifetime astronomical events, once traveling hours to Idaho to witness a 2 minute and 10 second total eclipse with his own eyes, “and it was totally worth it,” he says. 

When the sun finally sets in Southeast Alberta, and a sea of stars appear, the amateur astronomer is ready with his telescope as the roof of his observation deck slides back like a mechanical door, normally found on the front of a garage.

But not every time is he alone. He often has a group of people he’s presented to before he highlights the sky. Teaching astronomy for over 20 years, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors have listened to him tell stories with liveliness and vibrancy.

“My goal is to turn the light on where the bulb already existed, to acquaint people with the sky and stars they see every night, but now they’ll know names and stories.”

Before viewing the sky through a telescope with DeVries, the beauty above is admired, but with little context. In under an hour with the self-taught astronomer, people see more than stars. 

“I want people to know how close and accessible it is to see and know the sky, and the stories it tells through constellations.”

The list of topics and events related to astronomy is astronomical. DeVries has guided people through partial solar eclipses and supermoons as they’re occurring, and dives into all different subjects that astronomy flows into.

He sets up Eagle Butte Observatory for public and private groups, and visits the dark sky preserve in Elkwater, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, to host ‘Dance of the Dark Sky’ in the summer for campers.

“I really enjoy igniting the fire for learning. When I’m helping other teachers with a science program, the first thing I tell them is, ‘please don’t be boring’”, he says. 

From six to 60 years old, the curiosity that lives within is sparked while with DeVries, illuminating like the stars in the sky viewed every night. DeVries’ shares his vast knowledge, like how a pirate’s eye patch is directly related to astronomy, and which star the Arctic is named after.

His partnership with Tourism Medicine Hat presents evenings where they begin at a local eatery, with mindfully prepared dinner and drinks, and then a short drive to Eagle Butte Observatory, like A Taste of Paradise & The Supermoon and Cocktails & Constellations. Find tickets here.

For some, science is a passing fad. It was when DeVries’ was young, he looked down, picked up a rock, and noticed the colours, crystals, and size. He looked up, and saw a space that called for life-long learning, “For me, it wasn’t a passing fad. It was forever. I love science.”

Find more information about Eagle Butte Observatory or book your private tour here.