Night at the Observatory
Author's note: This is the first of what I call "resurrected pieces from my recreational writing," composed before I started my Sands to Stars blog. First is a tribute to the night, with links to appropriate music, written Aug. 4, 2022: What's it like to spend a clear summer night at the observatory? Why, it's simply astronomical, of course. Photo by Phil Breidenbach. The gathering is a star party that brings the cosmos to Earth to a wide-eyed general public, but ends with the bleary eyes of intrepid, joyful amateur astronomers who endure until daybreak on a rural hilltop. It is easy to be overcome by emotion, because the inspirational sky views are spectacular, from those offered by the larger telescopes inside the building to their smaller, mobile cousins on the lawn. The instruments beckon all curious eyes. So with the help of some my favorite musical artists who have shared their wonderful audio inspirations online, here is a sonic voyage from sundown to j...