The first official week of the season for the new, reimagined Duke Theatre begins next Wednesday, July 16, with performances by Andrew Schneider, and both this summer and the future look very bright indeed for this jewel of a theater.
Outdoors, we experience the majesty of the Sun’s trajectory from sunrise at its extreme northeast reach, climbing to what seems to be the top of the sky at midday and then arcing to set at its extreme northwest position on the horizon.
The haze that more or less obliterates – especially in towns and cities – what would be a clear, awe-inspiring, star-filled sky at night, is slow to be recognized for what it is: a smog of light pollution.
He had unveiled a plaque affixed to the Eagle that bore the inscription, “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.”
Norman Rockwell was likely entrenched in his daily routine on that long-ago summer afternoon, one that included riding his bike down Main Street and observing passersby from the expansive northern-facing windows of his second-floor studio in Stockbridge.
While the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 moon walk – and we are continually awed by the results of space exploration since – it is sobering to learn that in 85 percent of locations on Earth, only a few stars are visible when looking up to the sky at night.
The ambitious program includes numerous seminars, solar viewing through shielded telescopes, and 120 exhibitors and vendors enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge with the general public, including children.
Wherever the Big Dipper is in the sky, simply “arc to Arcturus” to be assured that you have located the second brightest star visible in northern skies.
See January’s shining Full Wolf Moon go dark, the stars appear in a nearly moonless sky and the brilliant orb return to full light, outshining all but the brightest distant suns.
