Observing

Growing up in the era of space themed movies like Star Wars, Space Camp, Apollo 11 and the Challenger explosion space disaster, I've always had a slight fascination with Outer Space.  However, upon visiting the Warren Rupp Observatory, I now have a major fascination with Outer Space.  

Upon arriving, there were telescopes of all sizes and magnitudes set up for the public's use.  With a large binocular we were able to see, with enough clarity to count, the craters on the moon!!

Two wondefully kind gentlemen "adopted" us as soon as we arrived.  They were there by our side explaining everything, adjusting their telescopes so we could see various parts of the night sky, and showing us awesome apps that, when pointed at the night sky, will outline the constellations or pinpoint all the satellites in our area.  We were even in the right spot at the right time to see the Space Station sail through the sky before disappearing in the Earth's shadow.  

With standard telescopes, we were able to see Saturn with its moons and Jupiter!!  Its one thing to see pictures in a text book, its completely awe-inspiring, almost life changing to see them in real life, with your own eyes.   But the most heart stopping, drop to your knees at the vastness that we cannot imagine moment is getting to use "one of the world's largest amateur operated telescope".  

What does that mean?  

1.  Its free.  

2.  You are lifted 18 feet high just to see in the eye piece.   

3.  We got to see a Nebula in Deep Space.

And what does that mean?

To put in comparison, with regular telescopes, we saw the craters on the moon which is 225,623 miles away.  We could see the wonderful, glorious rings of Jupiter a mere 390,682,808 miles away.  We could even see the browns and yellow swirling stripes of Saturn that is 746,000,000 miles away.  But using this telescope (whose mirror alone costs $28,000) we were able to see a Nebula that was 25 million Light Years away.  If you would like to do the math, one light year is 5.88 trillion miles.  

No picture could capture the moment, no words could describe it.  Never before have I given such praise to God for all of His Creation.  From this point on, I will always highly recommend visiting an observatory if you ever get the chance.  

You will not regret it.