Star Gazing

Those who know me know that I enjoy looking up and pondering the cosmos.  Growing in the metropolis of Southern California, it was never easy to witness the glories of the heavens at night because of the constant harsh city lights.  It was only when we eventually moved up to the more rural Northern California territories and then to Washington State that I was able to fully view and enjoy the wondrous night sky.

I remember one weekend retreat spent in the desert.  Our group went on a midnight hike out into the wilds.  There in the midst of nowhere I looked up to see absolute galaxies of stars and constellations.  I swore I was living in some sci-fi flick!

My group leader was an astrophysicist who pointed out several specific constellations—the Seven Sisters, Orion’s Belt, the Milky Way, the Big and Little Dippers.

I was hooked.  A full fledged Star Gazer!

After that, I always look skyward at night whenever I can.  Some of my favorite outings have been visiting planetariums where I could observe and learn more about the vast cosmos and deep space.  Still, nothing compares with just looking up and seeing them firsthand.

There were a few more momentous star gazing moments that warm my memories.  The Leonid meteor shower on the beach when my husband and I were first engaged.  The first time my son saw a Fire Ball meteorite blaze through the sky right outside our house.  The whirling, twirling Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) the first winter I moved to Washington.  I swear they looked just like colorful angels doing wild acrobats.

This week the summer skies are crystal clear, the night twinkles now with brilliant diamond lights.  Even the North Star seems to be larger and brighter these nights.

So this summer take a camping trip or somehow get out of the city to a remote place and look up at the night sky.  I my humble opinion there’s no better or more glorious show than the one our breathtaking heavens can provide.

Enjoy, fellow Star Gazer!