Summer Wonder
While recently cruising off Block Island, Rhode Island, I had a chance to take full advantage of one of my favorite iPhone apps, Star Walk. As we stood at the back of the boat, gazing at the stars in the Milky Way, I was struck by how excited our small group was to discover again constellations that had moved us as children: There’s Cassiopeia! I can see Mars! I just saw a meteor fall!
Now able to combine the visions of the night with immediately accessible knowledge via this App, we felt like kids at a planetarium with an astronomy professor at our fingertips! And then on the next day, as if to remind me what a speck in the galaxy we are, the New York Times provided a link to a breathtaking new video from the International Space Station. Take a minute to enjoy this remarkable view…
Deep summer—these are the nights when we take time to look up, enjoy the heavens, and feel awe. And it’s the season of the Perseid Meteor Shower (the peak this year is August 12/13). So fire up your apps, get out the telescope, and spend an evening as a family in the wonder of the celestial sky—it’s a great way to gain perspective and remember what’s really important.