We’ve had an unexpected (but welcome) warm spell here in the Northeast U.S. today. That means later on I can go out and do a little warm-night skygazing at the spring stars overhead. It’s not often we can do that in April around here. And, actually, there’s a good chance that it’ll cloud up and rain sometime soon, so I don’t want to lose the opportunity! In this stargazing business, you have to grab your chances when you can!

A few years ago I remember going out in downtown Boston (I lived in the North End for a short time) and being amazed to find Comet Hale-Bopp! It was bright enough we could see it from the middle of all the city lights. In fact, Mark and I grabbed the wait staff at the restaurant where we’d just had dinner and showed them the comet. Of course, it wasn’t all that warm (being late March at the time), but the generous impulse was appreciated. People respond to nifty cool things like being able to see a comet from a spot where, by all rights, they shouldn’t have a chance. A friend of mine who lives in New York City has regaled me with tales of taking her little scope out to a park near her place and showing people Mars and Saturn and Jupiter and the Moon. So, you never know when you might get a chance to see a celestial sight — and maybe share it with somebody!