I just returned from a 2-day trip to Fort Davis, Tx. I love going to that area of Texas. I guess it's because, at heart, I'm a desert rat. I was born and raised in El Paso and I have an affinity for far west Texas scenery, people, culture, and cuisine.

About 11 miles northwest of the ranch where I stayed, on Mt. Locke, is the University of Texas McDonald Observatory with 4 telescopes. Near the observatory is a visitor center where amateur astronomers set up their telescopes and allow the general public to view astronomical bodies such as stars, planets, moons, nebulae, etc. During new moon phases, it is so dark that you can scarcely see your hand in front of your face. Dark conditions provide for great viewing. Unfortunately, I didn't look at the lunar phase before my trip and I attended during a full moon. The sky was much brighter and many stars were unable to be seen. I did however, get a good view of Jupiter with its 4 moons and swirling bands as well as other celesial bodies.

I'm still filled with a child-like awe and wonder about stars. Granted, you can see some stars in town, but light polution degrades a significant portion of what is visible on a dark mountain with clear skies. In my awe, I recall that God spoke on the fourth day of creation and created the sun, stars, and moon. In the "star tour" that is presented at the visitor center, the presenting astonomers speak in terms of distances of stars and nebulae being thousands and millions of light years away. God spoke and stars were created millions of light years away. That's simply unfathomable.