Saturn

So I'm an astronomer today because my parents took me out when I was a little kid and showed me the stars. And one of the most vivid memories I have of my childhood was when I got my first telescope and pointed it at Saturn.

Tonight I took the girls out and showed them the Moon, Venus, and Saturn through the telescope. Abra was very excited. Thalia was too, but also a little tired. But Saturn was beautiful, a little white ball with tiny, perfect rings.

(No, not my picture of Saturn, this one
came from Cloudbait Observatory)

In this era when we see spectacular images daily from an array of space probes, space telescopes, and mammoth ground-based observatories, you'd think a little smudge of Saturn through a telescope sitting on your front steps would be nothing. But it's really wonderful to see it with your own eyes.

I love my job. The universe is a beautiful place.

The Good, the Bad, and the Easter Bunny

So today the girls were coloring Easter eggs....



... while listening to the soundtrack to "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly."



I like to think about how they will remember these scenes when they get older....