Starry Night

A couple of nights ago Howard woke me from a blissful slumber, “Hey, you wanna see a comet?”

I grudgingly got up knowing that yes, I wanted to see it but no I hate being woken up after I’ve hit REM. Once my body and mind have slipped into deep sleep they want to stay there for their maximum allotment. It’s my coping mechanism to balance my frenzied days. They are non-stop whirlwinds of activity- whirlwinds named Mira. Mira, who has recently developed a fondness for climbing, running, and finding tiny areas to crawl into, under, and behind, constantly keeps me on my toes. Having a child means your ship is constantly flying on red alert. My nights on the other hand – my nights I get to switch to auto pilot and oh how heavenly a transition it is.

So when Howard wakes me with the promise of some celestial delight- the inner Kristen is excited- but the outer mommy rebels. The mommy in me knows the nonstop ride the rising sun will bring. The slightest rays of which wake my daughter from her slumber and so begin my day. But this night the Kristen-me won out and dragged my butt out of bed {much to mommy-me’s chagrin}. And how glad am I to be able to witness Comet Holmes for myself. In fact it produced such an awesome ‘wow-factor’ that I wanted to share the feeling. I called my parents and told them the comet was visible. My mom immediately got excited and spurred my father into heading outside with her. Howard and I rushed over to their place to help them spot the phenomenon. The four of us stood in their backyard, clad in our pajamas, and oh-ed and ah-ed over the sky with a pair of binoculars.

Since the cooler weather is bringing clearer skies our way, Howard is anticipating plenty of imaging nights. Riding the recent high the comet produced in us, my mother and I accompanied Howard to a dark sky site outside of the city on Saturday. It’s mind-boggling how different the sky appears in a dark area away from light pollution. How sad is it that a large percentage of city dwellers will never know what the sky actually looks like? With the naked eye we were able to see the Milky Way, the comet, and the Andromeda galaxy. Not to mention the detail and clarity perceived through the lenses of Howard’s ‘scopes. It should be mandatory for people everywhere to get away from the blinding lights and white noise of society and look out towards the vastness of space. It creates the same ‘centering’ feeling you get looking out at the horizon from the beach’s sandy shore. You get that sense of feeling infinitely small yet infinitely important. For me it recreates the impression mountain climbing imparted – as I stood among the vast peaks I felt so microscopically small; yet, just by being there aware and alive I felt so important. You don’t lose yourself in the enormity of the mountains, the immensity of the ocean, or the vastness of space- you gain your sense of importance and individuality in this world. There will never be another you. There is a purpose- even if you don’t know quite what it is yet.

To contemplate the vast distances and enormity of what you are viewing when you look at the sky is truly stimulating, and more dizzying yet to wrap your head around the space and time involved. Seeing the true night sky, without haze, fog, and artificial light is truly an awe-inspiring moment. Everyone should attempt to see it this way- the way nature intended.

“For my part I know nothing with certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.” Vincent Van Gogh