By Isabella Lindsey, 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 15, 2025) - Kentucky SkyTalk hosted “Our Universe and Life” as part of their monthly series, questioning the origins of life in the universe and the likelihood that it exists elsewhere.

Beginning in the Chemistry-Physics Building with a lecture and concluding in the observatory, the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts and Sciences and the MacAdam Student Observatory held the event on Thursday, Nov. 13.

The monthly event covers a different topic each time, aiming to bring people together for discussions on astronomy and current research, according to Kentucky SkyTalk’s website.

This month’s SkyTalk was led by Gary Ferland, UK physics and astronomy professor, and renowned astrophysicist, who said the event created an open-minded conversation on science’s biggest mysteries.

“We know life happened here just as soon as it could. Is there life anywhere else?” Ferland said. “So if we know, despite the 100 billion planets in the galaxy, that we’re alone, I mean, that would be an amazing thing to know.”

The only life, besides life created in a lab, that scientists are aware of was created 400 billion years ago. He said the fact that people are optimistic about the idea of life on other planets is “inspiring.”

“Alternatively, if life is common, if there’s 100 billion life planets out there that may well have people just like us, that’s also a very different thing to know,” Ferland said.

After the lecture ended, graduate students showed visitors clusters of stars such as the Berio system and the Orion Nebula.

Ryan Eskenasy, a graduate student in astrophysics, said his favorite part of the event is how it constantly changes the way people think about the sky.

“Anytime you look up at the night sky, you have no idea what you’re looking at, and you can probably learn something new every time you do that,” Eskenasy said. “So it’s worthwhile to do so.”

Erica Lengyel, graduate student and observatory assistant, said the chance to see celestial objects up close is rare and a privilege on UK’s campus.

“Even career astronomers, you’d be surprised how few of them actually get a chance to take their time and appreciate the beauty of things in the universe,” Lengyel said. “So I think giving people who have maybe never used a telescope like this, ever seen, or use the telescope in general.”

She said the observatory provided attendees the chance to learn and see hands-on how the department conducts research.

Being able to provide a “deeper experience” is a highlight of working at the observatory, Lengyel said, and she hopes the event will inspire curiosity long after it ends.

“I hope that people continue to look up at the stars and wonder and kind of think about how special the world around us is,” said Lengyel. “Our space in this big, big universe.”

Watch the video here.