Training new observers in a Philippine foundation of Christian schools is intense. While little telescopes are often being used, we are so busy helping others we rarely have an opportunity for more than a glance at objects. The excitement among those just discovering the night skies creates an atmosphere of anticipation as trainees take turns looking through eye pieces at bright objects. Even practice with pictures of objects in a room at a distance of 25 feet has the same effect. During the course of instruction, we begin to explain the wonder of cities of stars that we call galaxies. Small telescopes can easily see Andromeda and the Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253). On this mission trip, weather conditions prevented us from seeing either one.
My first opportunity to observe and sketch was a week after we had returned home to Virginia. The Sculptor was first on my list, because it is so beautiful to observe. I used a larger scope, however, and the assistance of astro-video tools. It took about one hour to study and paint the galaxy on a prepared piece of wood. The amazing thing is the creative wisdom of God, Who chose to go much further than create stars. He also arranged them. In deep space beyond our own galaxy, He knew that one day we would have optics available to look farther than our forefathers so we could see other cities of stars outside our own Milky Way. How can we not give thanks as we consider some of them we can now observe? The Sculptor is one of my favorites because it reveals such an interesting structure, a little color, and a huge size.
In Amos, the Lord speaks of using natural things to get the attention of Israel. Over and over again He makes himself known through weather, famine, plagues but they would not respond. Today is not much different. We see pictures of the deep sky and pass them by or attribute them to some cosmic accident that happened all by itself. For this reason, we draw attention to sky in our training as a hint of God’s majesty and power, Who created and placed the heavens in a deliberate manner to be observed and considered with respect to His attributes. With this in mind, I close with a scripture from Amos 5:13…
He who forms the mountains,
creates the wind,
and reveals his thoughts to man,
he who treads on the high places of the earth–
the Lord God Almighty is his name.
quoted from the NIV
