The Cold, The Dark, And The Beautiful

I just returned from a run through the hills and orchards here on the south side of town, following a frosty path brilliantly lit by the light of the full moon. Once clear of the haze of the city lights, the full splendor of the winter heavens suffused the cold, clear night sky that surrounded me. In the last hours preceding midnight, the full moon shone directly overhead, closely accompanied by the glowing red planet Mars. Just above the eastern horizon, the mighty hunter Orion had begun his long stalk across the winter firmament in pursuit of his eternally raging nemesis, Taurus the bull. Close at his heel were his faithful hunting dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor, their presence marked by the blazing splendor of Sirius, brightest of all the stars in the night sky. Just as I crested the hills and began my descent back to civilization my gaze was drawn to the west, where I was treated to a glimpse of the brilliantly luminescent Venus, the goddess of love, before she slipped behind a thin veil of clouds at the skys edge and was lost to the night. Now, as I reluctantly neared the end of my journey, still awe-struck by the stellar magnificence being paraded before me, not wanting the moment to pass, I found comfort in knowing that this was merely the beginning of a series of long, clear, cold, and dark nights that would provide many more such opportunities to revel in the heavenly beauty of the night sky. I invite you to venture out as you are able and join me in seeing first-hand the spectacular display with which nature rewards those who brave the cold and dark of the winter nights...vertu svalur