Stargazing: Look up and chill out!

According to Dottie Edwards, president of the Shenandoah Astronomical Society, for thousands of years, both our ancestors and descendants have and will see the same shining night sky objects as we all move through time and space.  That is both a sobering and soothing concept in sharp contrast to our "hurry up, run-around" lives. 

Recently, that experience was not lost on a large collection of guests, including a Girl Scout Troop from Charlotte, NC, who gathered for Dottie's astronomy program at Capon Springs & Farms. Of course, it helped being out in the mountains of wild, wonderful West Virginia, where we enjoy both the opportunity for unobstructed views and no ambient light- a perfect recipe for star-gazing.  Earlier in the month, even without sophisticated equipment or knowledge of the heavens, we witnessed two fantastic heavenly displays: a total lunar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse.

So it was with great anticipation that on a perfectly clear late October night, we eagerly received instruction on how to identify half a dozen stars and constellations, clusters and nebula. Afterwards, we walked out to an open area where we could look up and get a full view of the night sky. In addition, with the help of two powerful telescopes, we were treated to close up views of a triple double star cluster and a fuzzy cotton ball object that is the Andromeda Galaxy.

We also learned the easy way to spot the Polaris, the North Star by following the cup part of the big dipper (see below). Knowing that both land and sea travelers use this reference point for navigation gave us an instant connection with anyone hurling through space on our tiny portion of this tiny rock we call Earth.  

Staring at millions of points of light provided an opportunity for awe and wonder that is necessary to keep one's sanity in a stressful world.  It allowed us to take a deep breath and contemplate the vastness of the universe and our place in it.  In these rapidly changing times of technological advancements, it was good to feel a sense of stability, time scale and size, providing perspective to the seemingly personal chaos of our everyday lives.

Dottie has offered to return next May with more members of her club, more telescopes and more opportunities to learn, reflect and enjoy the world around us.  

When was the last time you took a moment to go outside and ponder the stars?  Try it and see how much better you feel!