Astronomy II

We are four weeks into the semester already, and tonight was the first night I had the opportunity to take out my Monday night intro to astronomy lab section. We had watched a couple of movies the previous weeks, but tonight, we got to observe.

It was awesome!!!

It is amazing what happens to someone the first time that they see Saturn through a telescope, or get to gaze upon the terminator edge of the moon... Everyone, even the hardest, most stubborn mule headed male will melt like a little child when they see these things. It is really fun to watch college students turn into children again.

Did I mention that this was an awesome night?!

I think that I like these nights the best because they allow me to hear the students stories. When we sit in the class and watch movies, I am just a talking head and they are just sleeping students. On nights when we are on the roof though, all bets are off. I get to hear about their lives, their broken relationships, their friendships, engagements, plans after college and even stories about their children...

Those times on the roof, the lines between student and instructor are worn really thin. Relationships are built and lives are changed... absolutely amazing what God's Creation can do for us if we just let it... Absolutely amazing...

It was an awesome, awesome night...

Prayers...

Pisio

P.S.: While I wish I could claim credit for the above image, it was stolen from NASA's site.

Astronomy

Tonight was my second class meeting with my Tuesday night Introduction to Astronomy Lab Section, and it was a riot. I love astronomy... my dad before he died passed that love onto me. I love watching people's reactions the first time they see Saturn or the moon through a telescope. Tonight was little different though. 

One of the students in the other section taught by the other instructor was extremely excited about the things she was seeing. We got to talking as we generally do with the students that are interested and it turns out she worked at the KECK observatory in Hawaii. While I had never made it to that observatory in the 10 or so years I worked in the Astronomy Community in Hawaii, we did know a few of the same people. 

This whole experience got me to thinking about how small the world really is. She went to school with one of my co-workers brothers. One of my best friends from the national guard was her co-worker at the KECK. Weird how those things just seem to happen. It was a fun observational period. I love Astronomy. Once you begin to realize how large the universe is, the more amazed you are by the little things... almost like there are no coincidences.

Prayers,

Pisio