Lovely story about reconnecting with curiosity through generations :) I like that you end on being able to trace Orion's belt again! Only a temporary loss while you built foundations elsewhere, is how I like to view it
Also, that map of the US light pollution was so interesting to see - the Western part of the map is so blank/clear compared to the Eastern half. Fascinating.
That’s so funny about Arizona, Amit, and makes sense. I’ve visited one of those “Dark Sky” zones in Arizona before and it was awesome. (Darksky.org) Lily, I had a similar thought about how seasons of our lives require different activities, types of energy, and direction of focus. I love how you framed that also. And I also felt the ache of Amit’s loss and re-connection. So lovely.
Jenny, I’m smiling reading this. Those Dark Sky sites are the best, we try to visit couple of them during the summer for our family camping trips, so glad you got to experience the magic too.
Amit, can't really express well how much I appreciate this type of article in the sea of distraction and information overload that makes up our modern world. Growing up in the US Southwest we had amazing skies. I'll never forget a camping trip in Moab, Utah and looking up at the stars. It's a memory that still fuels me with wonder decades later. Thinking of the cosmos, and seeing the photos that new telescopes take, really puts things in perspective for me. It's fabulous to be linked by these experiences, you on your porch on hot nights in India and me in rural Colorado. We can find and focus on these human connections to each other if we try, and how beautiful that it's the stars, which we're physically made of, that can make them possible.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful memory about camping in Moab. It's one of my favorite places I've visited and can't wait to go back with family. It's amazing how these special moments from long ago stay with us.
You mentioned being made of stardust, which reminds me of this wonderful book I read "What's Gotten Into You" by Dan Levitt, where he explains about the iron in our blood to the calcium in our bones, was literally forged in dying stars billions of years ago.
“In times where we can hold the entire cosmos in our smartphones, the wonder remains the same: a father and child, connected by curiosity, asking questions that reach across time.”
Connected by curiosity and connected to each other. My favorite parts were when you and your dad started this love affair, and then you showed us how you and your son are continuing.
…we need to install lights out nights and weeks…even if just once a month and once a year it would be such a tremendous lift for our brains and eyes and minds and togetherness…
You're absolutely right, love this idea. A "lights out night" could start small, a neighborhood, then a town, then who knows? Once people experience a sense of awe together, they might start demanding more dark sky preservation in their communities. Do you know if this is actually being done anywhere?
…i don’t but you and one other author friend here on the ‘stack have both inspired the idea in me…living in suburbs and cities for so long i deeply miss the stars…had the pleasure of spending a night in the middle of nothing wyoming on a completely clear night and fell asleep on a lounge chair staring deep into dozens of layers of stars upon stars…the sky was dotted milk…unforgettable…
Love the idea! I'm actually heading to Arizona in March and I'd love to coordinate something then. I'll reach out to you both directly and maybe we can make this stargazing trip happen.
We are moving a bit further from the city center in late February. The house is on a rocky hill. I think star mesmerizing will be better. I'll invite others to join us, too. Let’s see what happens, and I’ll be happy just to follow the example you are setting with your son.
I did some quick research and was surprised to find some communities in US have had success acquiring official Dark Sky certification to preserve their night skies.
Flagstaff became the world's first International Dark Sky City in 2001 and Groveland became the first certified International Dark Sky Community in Florida and the Southeastern US in 2023.
In various places across the globe you can search out deep sky reserves. These are places shielded from ambient light. It is astounding what a drop in ambient light can do!
But I +100 any effort to have collective once-a-month lights out nights! Maybe each new moon?
This is so beautiful!!! I missed this before (just getting active on Substack). As usual, so many beautiful phrases. Your writing is so lush, layered, and textured. I loved the line, “the stars continued broadcasting their ancient stories, but I had gotten lost in the static of my own stories.” (Such a good chiasmic structure). I also love love love the central theme / and the specific lines about the family connection— “generations of stargazers” and the connection of curiosity. And I enjoyed visiting your experience as a child— the slow pace of the stargazing, the texture of being curious and full of awe. Wish we could bottle those feelings, so our busy older selves could access them. (But that’s what this is about!). Really beautiful essay!
Thank you for your kind words! I've been following this trend of "dark sky tourism" where people specifically plan trips around stargazing opportunities.
When I first saw the map, I was shocked how the east coast is almost entirely lit up, while you can still find these precious pockets of true darkness in the western states. I wonder if access to dark skies might become as valuable as ocean views one day!
We share this passion for the night sky, Amit, instigated by our fathers. Two links. Of many.
This awe-some piece was a joy to interact with and experience. I felt a glory in the way your words captured each experience and expansive-ness in the sheer wonder. Your son is a lucky guy!
You're right, I'm the lucky one. Seeing the night sky through my son's eyes has helped me rediscover that childlike sense of awe, I thought I'd lost. It's funny how sometimes our children end up teaching us how to see the world again.
Don't get me started! I have this line ... 'all my curiosities start from pulling at a thread my kids have left hanging!' Case in point: my BTS fandom! (k-pop, k-drama)
Lovely story about reconnecting with curiosity through generations :) I like that you end on being able to trace Orion's belt again! Only a temporary loss while you built foundations elsewhere, is how I like to view it
Also, that map of the US light pollution was so interesting to see - the Western part of the map is so blank/clear compared to the Eastern half. Fascinating.
I love how you framed that - "a temporary loss while building foundations elsewhere." That's such a kind way to look at it!
That light pollution map is wild, when I first saw it, it finally made sense why most o the astronomers I follow live in Arizona.
That’s so funny about Arizona, Amit, and makes sense. I’ve visited one of those “Dark Sky” zones in Arizona before and it was awesome. (Darksky.org) Lily, I had a similar thought about how seasons of our lives require different activities, types of energy, and direction of focus. I love how you framed that also. And I also felt the ache of Amit’s loss and re-connection. So lovely.
Jenny, I’m smiling reading this. Those Dark Sky sites are the best, we try to visit couple of them during the summer for our family camping trips, so glad you got to experience the magic too.
Amit, can't really express well how much I appreciate this type of article in the sea of distraction and information overload that makes up our modern world. Growing up in the US Southwest we had amazing skies. I'll never forget a camping trip in Moab, Utah and looking up at the stars. It's a memory that still fuels me with wonder decades later. Thinking of the cosmos, and seeing the photos that new telescopes take, really puts things in perspective for me. It's fabulous to be linked by these experiences, you on your porch on hot nights in India and me in rural Colorado. We can find and focus on these human connections to each other if we try, and how beautiful that it's the stars, which we're physically made of, that can make them possible.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful memory about camping in Moab. It's one of my favorite places I've visited and can't wait to go back with family. It's amazing how these special moments from long ago stay with us.
You mentioned being made of stardust, which reminds me of this wonderful book I read "What's Gotten Into You" by Dan Levitt, where he explains about the iron in our blood to the calcium in our bones, was literally forged in dying stars billions of years ago.
“In times where we can hold the entire cosmos in our smartphones, the wonder remains the same: a father and child, connected by curiosity, asking questions that reach across time.”
Connected by curiosity and connected to each other. My favorite parts were when you and your dad started this love affair, and then you showed us how you and your son are continuing.
So good Amit.
Thank you. Your insights on my draft were such an inspiration for me to share this here.
…we need to install lights out nights and weeks…even if just once a month and once a year it would be such a tremendous lift for our brains and eyes and minds and togetherness…
You're absolutely right, love this idea. A "lights out night" could start small, a neighborhood, then a town, then who knows? Once people experience a sense of awe together, they might start demanding more dark sky preservation in their communities. Do you know if this is actually being done anywhere?
…i don’t but you and one other author friend here on the ‘stack have both inspired the idea in me…living in suburbs and cities for so long i deeply miss the stars…had the pleasure of spending a night in the middle of nothing wyoming on a completely clear night and fell asleep on a lounge chair staring deep into dozens of layers of stars upon stars…the sky was dotted milk…unforgettable…
"The sky was dotted milk", what a beautiful way to describe it! Your Wyoming experience sounds absolutely magical.
Pick a night in February, and i’ll join you two.
Love the idea! I'm actually heading to Arizona in March and I'd love to coordinate something then. I'll reach out to you both directly and maybe we can make this stargazing trip happen.
We are moving a bit further from the city center in late February. The house is on a rocky hill. I think star mesmerizing will be better. I'll invite others to join us, too. Let’s see what happens, and I’ll be happy just to follow the example you are setting with your son.
…love this idea…
I did some quick research and was surprised to find some communities in US have had success acquiring official Dark Sky certification to preserve their night skies.
Flagstaff became the world's first International Dark Sky City in 2001 and Groveland became the first certified International Dark Sky Community in Florida and the Southeastern US in 2023.
In various places across the globe you can search out deep sky reserves. These are places shielded from ambient light. It is astounding what a drop in ambient light can do!
But I +100 any effort to have collective once-a-month lights out nights! Maybe each new moon?
This is so beautiful!!! I missed this before (just getting active on Substack). As usual, so many beautiful phrases. Your writing is so lush, layered, and textured. I loved the line, “the stars continued broadcasting their ancient stories, but I had gotten lost in the static of my own stories.” (Such a good chiasmic structure). I also love love love the central theme / and the specific lines about the family connection— “generations of stargazers” and the connection of curiosity. And I enjoyed visiting your experience as a child— the slow pace of the stargazing, the texture of being curious and full of awe. Wish we could bottle those feelings, so our busy older selves could access them. (But that’s what this is about!). Really beautiful essay!
Thank you for taking the time to share your kind thoughts. And welcome back to Substack!
Amit, this is beautiful. Your elegance shines light your cherished stars.
The light pollution map is sobering. No wonder so many people are moving west.
Thank you for your kind words! I've been following this trend of "dark sky tourism" where people specifically plan trips around stargazing opportunities.
When I first saw the map, I was shocked how the east coast is almost entirely lit up, while you can still find these precious pockets of true darkness in the western states. I wonder if access to dark skies might become as valuable as ocean views one day!
I think it might.
We share this passion for the night sky, Amit, instigated by our fathers. Two links. Of many.
This awe-some piece was a joy to interact with and experience. I felt a glory in the way your words captured each experience and expansive-ness in the sheer wonder. Your son is a lucky guy!
Thank you for this heartwarming comment!
You're right, I'm the lucky one. Seeing the night sky through my son's eyes has helped me rediscover that childlike sense of awe, I thought I'd lost. It's funny how sometimes our children end up teaching us how to see the world again.
Don't get me started! I have this line ... 'all my curiosities start from pulling at a thread my kids have left hanging!' Case in point: my BTS fandom! (k-pop, k-drama)
Haha, wonder and discovery come in all forms!