As a perennial city dweller, I rarely get to see stars.
As a young lieutenant in what now seems like a previous life, I was learning to fly airplanes. I was flying solo above the Okefenokee swamp at night at 45,000 feet: just me, my aircraft and the sky. I was surrounded by darkness, punctuated by jewels of light above and below. Even the radios were quiet that night. At that altitude I was above 80% of the atmosphere. The stars appeared to be painted on the canopy. All I had to do was open it, reach out with my hand and scoop them up.
At that moment I felt very close to the universe (or the creation, if you prefer that term) and I was a part of it. The moment still lives in my heart decades later.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirthOf sun-split clouds, -and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of —Wheeled and soared and swungHigh in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring thereI’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flungMy eager craft through footless halls of air…Up, up the long, delirious, burning blueI’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy graceWhere never lark or even eagle flew -And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trodThe high untrespassed sanctity of space,Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Because of light pollution, I’ve not seen a dark night sky. The stars I see at night are few. I’d like to visit one of the world’s dark sky places someday. But, I’d like other people to see a dark sky without traveling. On one night every five years or so, I’d like the world to turn off as many lights as possible — a global dark sky event.
DanFlak over 6 years ago
As a perennial city dweller, I rarely get to see stars.
As a young lieutenant in what now seems like a previous life, I was learning to fly airplanes. I was flying solo above the Okefenokee swamp at night at 45,000 feet: just me, my aircraft and the sky. I was surrounded by darkness, punctuated by jewels of light above and below. Even the radios were quiet that night. At that altitude I was above 80% of the atmosphere. The stars appeared to be painted on the canopy. All I had to do was open it, reach out with my hand and scoop them up.
At that moment I felt very close to the universe (or the creation, if you prefer that term) and I was a part of it. The moment still lives in my heart decades later.
Dani Rice over 6 years ago
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirthOf sun-split clouds, -and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of —Wheeled and soared and swungHigh in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring thereI’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flungMy eager craft through footless halls of air…Up, up the long, delirious, burning blueI’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy graceWhere never lark or even eagle flew -And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trodThe high untrespassed sanctity of space,Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Written by John Magee, a WWII RAF pilot
morningglory73 Premium Member over 6 years ago
Oh please please please let there be wise men (people) in Washington DC.
Jogger2 over 6 years ago
Because of light pollution, I’ve not seen a dark night sky. The stars I see at night are few. I’d like to visit one of the world’s dark sky places someday. But, I’d like other people to see a dark sky without traveling. On one night every five years or so, I’d like the world to turn off as many lights as possible — a global dark sky event.
kaffekup over 6 years ago
Unfortunately, all those wise people are wandering different directions around the Universe, not necessarily just here.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 6 years ago
Even if there is no light pollution the most you could see is a mere 4,500 stars. You would see more with lenses, of course.