The Stars at Night Are Big and Bright . . . Unless They’re Covered in the Haze of Light Pollution
This winter solstice Jupiter and Saturn will align for the first time in 800 years to form what’s called the Christmas Star, and it’s sure to be magical.
For us parents, we often want to recreate the fond memories of our youth for our kids. For me, it meant summers wading in local watering holes, catching fireflies at dusk, building sandcastles at the beach, and drinking root beer floats on a blistering August afternoon. It meant football, caramel apples, pumpkins, and playing in a pile of raked leaves in the fall. In the winter, it meant sparklers and fireworks on New Year’s Eve, building a snowman on the rare snow day, roasting marshmallows over a bonfire. In the spring, it meant picking wildflowers, blowing bubbles, dancing in the rain, stomping in mud puddles, and hiking in nature. You know, the simple things.
To my kids’ delight, and even more so my own, I’ve been able to replicate these moments and more. Yet, there was one that proved elusive. I wanted my kids to see the night sky of my youth, to marvel with a touch of sadness at a falling star blazing across an onyx sky.
“I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of…
