The Stars Shine In the Sky Tonight

Every year in August, as the Earth passes through rock and dust fragments left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle, last time it came near the Sun, these small particles collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, burning bright, creating a blazing yet momentary streak of light across the sky.

There were no meteors to be seen this year from our vantage point. The Perseids, one of the more consistent meteor showers, were hampered by the full moon and a thin scattering of clouds.

Vacations as a child were almost always camping, which meant night skies were never hampered by city lights. I remember many nights in various states with my dad, my mom, and my sister, gazing into the night, watching the stars roll by (and sometimes listening to the radio).

Even without the meteor shower, the sky was a beautiful sight. Despite the full moon it was still filled with visible stars. I leaned against the car and gazed into the night, looking at light that traveled through time to get here, gazing at the sky’s majestic beauty, remembering when...