Where The Stars Shine Brighter
After weeks and weeks of sunny days, wouldn’t you know the one day we have cloud cover, I wished for a clear sky. On Tuesday night, the moon was at its glorious full state, glowing ever brighter as it crested the horizon.
Despite the clouds, the moon managed to show itself just long enough for me to take in its magnificent presence. Ever since I was a child, I have had a fascination with the moon. I blame my dad, who also showed great interest in the space program in the 1960s. He made sure we were crowded around the tiny portable TV in my parents’ bedroom to watch the moon landing and the astronauts first walk on the moon.
The idea of a man walking on the moon was so incredibly hard to believe that it kept my newsman father captivated. He reveled in the facts of a story and moon walking was so very new to all of us at the time.
His office at the newspaper sported a huge framed photograph of the moon. Perhaps it kept him inspired.
Growing up in the 1960s as the race to space heated up with the Russians, space-related toys were all the rage under Christmas trees. Telescopes were in great demand then and remain so today. Astronaut suits showed up on Halloween for trick or treating. The TV show “I Dream of Jeannie” was popular with its male stars serving in the space program.
Then we were introduced to robots and aliens via the “Lost in Space” TV show. I imagine the mega-popular “Star Wars” movies were born out of the actual space program in this country and elsewhere.
As a kid, I recall spending a few summer nights in the observatory field at Oglebay Park where you could view the night sky through a telescope thanks to the folks at Oglebay Institute.
Local astronomers were on hand to point out the various attractions in the sky and educate us on their origins.
Today, living far from the heavy glare of street lights, illuminated commercial buildings and residential neighborhoods affords me the ability to see the stars and other heavenly bodies in a way that can mesmerize.
The constellations and Northern Star appear closer and without blemish in my night sky. But it is the moon that pulls me outside into the darkness.
When I stare up at a full moon, I can almost hear my dad ask, “Can you see it? Can you see the face of the man in the moon?” Yes, I see him, and I know you do too from your heavenly perch. Good night, Pop.
Heather Ziegler can be reached at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.