Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 84

FOCAL POINT by Douglas Ray Nelson

Cosmic
Entanglement
A brush with death brings home the profound
connection we all have with the universe.

eight years old. "Look into the eyepiece," the astronomer said. "You'll see
Saturn." I knew Saturn from pictures
- the planet with rings - but I'd never
observed it with my own eyes. I peered
into the eyepiece and perceived a small
dot encircled by white rings. "Some of
those nearby stars that you see are actually Saturnian moons." I was hooked.
In my teens, I knew the names of
the brighter stars. During that time,
on a bitterly cold night in 1986, I stood
on a dark street in a small town and
made out a smudge low in the sky. It
was Halley's Comet. Very faint, but
there. It would make a better showing
in 2061. I'd be 90. "See you later," I
whispered to the comet.
In my twenties, I sat atop a ladder and gazed into an enormous tube
with a mirror on the bottom. Comet
Shoemaker-Levy 9 had fragmented and
smashed into Jupiter. Dark plumes the
size of Earth marked the impacts. Night
after night, I tracked Jupiter until it
sank below the horizon, knowing that
I would likely never view such a rare
event again.
In my thirties, I worked as a planetarium curator and star party host.
"Welcome to the stars," I said to the
crowds. Over years of school shows, I
84

N OV E M B E R 2 018 * SK Y & TELESCOPE

told thousands of
children, "There
is no reason to
be afraid of the
dark. In fact, the
nighttime sky has
so much to be
excited about. Let's take a look!"
In my forties, I climbed to the top of
the world. Well, maybe not the top. But
from a steep hill surrounded by Wyoming grassland, I watched my first total
solar eclipse. The Moon ate the Sun and
both became a single hole in the sky
darker than pitch and crowned with a
blazing halo.
The climb that day took every bit of
strength I had. I barely made it. The
same was not true of my companion.
He didn't think the climb was a big
deal. I felt like it had nearly killed me.
Indeed, it had.
A couple of months later, during an
annual checkup, my doctor discovered
a heart murmur. A cardiologist found
heart disease, and I soon had openheart surgery. It saved my life, and I'm
still in recovery.
Facing death, I reevaluated life. Had I
lived well? What would I change? Which
were my favorite memories? Time and
again, my mind drifted to nights under
the stars. Each had been time well spent.

p Beloved objects in the author's life, clockwise from above: Saturn taken by Voyager 2
in 1981; Halley's Comet shot by the Kuiper
Airborne Observatory in 1986; a starscape featuring Cygnus; and the 2017 total solar eclipse.

How many stargazing nights do I
have left? I don't know, but the number
is finite. Each session is a gift from the
universe, an opportunity to observe
where I came from and where I am
going. You see, we are entangled, the
cosmos and I. It is part of me, and I am
part of it. This is the way it has been
and, even after I'm gone, the way it
forever will be.
¢ Las Vegas-based DOUG NELSON
blogs at confessionsofastargazer.com.
He's not afraid of the dark, but sometimes he does wonder if a monster is
hiding under his bed.

SAT UR N: N ASA / JPL; H A LLE Y'S CO ME T: N ASA;
CYG NUS A ND ECLIPSE: SE A N WA LK ER / S&T

I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN more than


http://www.confessionsofastargazer.com

Sky and Telescope - November 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky and Telescope - November 2018

Contents
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - Cover1
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - Cover2
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 1
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - Contents
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 3
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 4
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 5
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 6
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 7
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 8
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 9
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 10
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 11
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 12
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 13
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 14
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 15
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 16
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 17
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 18
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 19
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 20
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 21
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 22
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 23
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 24
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 25
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 26
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 27
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 28
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 29
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 30
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 31
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 32
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 33
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 34
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 35
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 36
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 37
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 38
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 39
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 40
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 41
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 42
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 43
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 44
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 45
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 46
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 47
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 48
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 49
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 50
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 51
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 52
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 53
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 54
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 55
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 56
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 57
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 58
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 59
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 60
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 61
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 62
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 63
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 64
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 65
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 66
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 67
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 68
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 69
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 70
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 71
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 72
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 73
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 74
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 75
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 76
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 77
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 78
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 79
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 80
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 81
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 82
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 83
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - 84
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - Cover3
Sky and Telescope - November 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/skywatch_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_mars
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com