Waiting for a Star to Fall

The ancient mariners guided themselves around the globe using little more than a sextant and the stars above.  The Greeks named many of the stars and the constellations were named, particularly those stars that make up the signs of the Zodiac.  Many of us today can spot the Big Dipper, known to the scholars as Ursa Major, but beyond that, fewer people actually know these various celestial collections.  We simply take out our hand held electronic devices and hit the maps app and viola; we are on our way.

Unfortunately, with the ever increasing problem of light pollution, seeing the stars so vividly has become even more difficult.  The glow from large cities effects us even when we are out in the country.  With the expanding population, there are more homes, and consequently, increasing numbers of street lights.  I remember my first flight to California before starting graduate school.  My parents put me on the redeye out of Boston, and on the way across, you could imagine the cities below based on the size of the radiating footprint.  As we approached the LA basin, I have this unforgettable image of this expanding sea of lights.  It overwhelmed me.  While in California, my friends and I would head out to Joshua Tree or into the mountains to camp, and the night skies there were not tainted by those city lights.  That's where the stars had center stage and would light up the night sky.

Late July into early August marks the annual Perseid meteor shower which for star gazers is one of the years "highlights".  So, if you are blessed with a clear night and are so inclined, raise your eyes to the heavens in hopes of catching one of these remarkable displays.  You won't be disappointed, and if you don't, you may have to wait for next year's "stars to fall"!  Enjoy.