Recently, I looked up at the sky from my aunt’s house (she lives in a rural area) and gasped at the beauty of the sky. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but there’s something about a sky full of stars that still grabs my attention. And that’s good. I’d hate to get jaded!

I remember one time I was observing on Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawai’i, and decided to take a break. I stepped out onto the outside catwalk of the telescope we were using and looked up. It was a sea of stars. The sky itself was so black it really did look like velvet. And, for the only time in my life, I actually felt as if I was going to fall up into the sky. It was uncanny and sent shivers down my spine. I’ve never forgotten that experience. I wish everybody could have it.