It was only yesterday we were all making our resolutions for the new year. Of course the world’s problems straddle the clock’s tick from midnight to 12:00:01 taking 2004 into 2005. Against the backdrop of continued strife, the plight of the tsunami victims in Asia and Africa, and other issues, skygazing might seem to be a frivolous activity. But it’s not. It’s part of our lives. And it’s amazing sometimes how a short stroll through the universe can change one’s perspective on life here on Earth.

All this stuff that we humans do happens under that starry sky. We often credit our “lucky stars” when things go right, and blame “the planets” or something like that when life doesn’t go the way we want it to. But, in truth, the stars and planets and galaxies are going about their business of shining, evolving, revolving, rotating, and all the other things that celestial objects do. Any effect they have on us is mostly imagined, except for the pleasure we get from watching them, exploring the processes that make them what they are, whether we are doing it professionally or simply stepping out to look up for a few minutes in the evening or early morning. It’s the only free show we never have to pay for—they’re always out there.