Mine began at 4:18am, up early to get in a good hike to see the sunrise. Then later in the evening went up to Lick Observatory atop Mt. Hamilton for the sunset. At 4500′, the peak affords an expansive view of Silicon Valley and beyond. On very clear days you can see all the way to Yosemite and Half Dome.
Through the 36″ telescope we had good views of the A30 globular cluster. 40,000 lightyears away. The thought of such ancient starlight crossing such vast, empty gulfs of space and time, to be picked up by this telescope and directed into the retina of my eye at that very moment of time… boggles the mind. What was happening on the earth 40,000 years ago, when these beams of light started out?
We are indeed very fortunate to be alive in the present moment of time.
consciousness of the continuity of existence 