The created heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) and show his attributes of power and majesty. So, it is our pleasure to render some of its sights when we observe. We have done it in the US, Cambodia, Philippines, and Haiti. If we have opportunity, we will do it more. As I write, we are preparing for our next mission trip to the Philippines, where we have already exposed hundreds of children, ministry staff, teachers, pastors, parents, and friends to the wonder of the heavens. But it is never done without reference to our Mighty Creator, whose hand to create and sustain the heavens is like a giant signpost to the human race saying, “I did it, and no one else!” This is the sentiment of the scriptures that I have discussed in many posts.
The last year presented challenges and opportunities for Faylene and me which included a two-month trip to the Philippines, the final build process for a home in NC, and some intense work on the home and property. Part of it was re-starting our own observing of the heavens. While the number of observation periods was limited, 2023 eventually marked the full operation of two home observing sites and about a dozen public observing times. We still teach and encourage people to make observing sheets and comments for observations, which we did ourselves for our private observing as we unpacked and tested equipment. I also had to work on sketching practices that had become rusty. The following sketches show a few recordings for this year. Of course, they don’t compare to details presented on good astrophotography of deep sky objects. As I tell people, however, each observation of the heavens you make is unique, so record what you can with whatever detail you can. Then, thank the Creator for it all: the object, the heavens, our earth observing platform where we live, and the ability to thoughtfully observe. So here are a few from 2023:
The Ring Nebula is always a favorite to show, but I have also observed and sketched it many times. The warm summer night was clear, and the object was high, so we rigged our 4-inch refractor and added astro-video tools so I could develop this little observing sheet. My Lovely watched the skies with a binocular and checked the monitor several times while I did the quick sketch.
Less than a week later, during a stretch of clear nights (unusual for NC), I grabbed M5 with the same equipment. Catching the color in the nucleus region and recording the prominent stars was a pleasure. We both ‘traveled’ around the sky afterwards to examine some other clusters, but M5 was the favorite for the evening.
August and September are favorite months for us to observe the low southern skies, and we had a dry period with several clear nights to observe. We visited some of our late summer favorites during two separate nights. The Lagoon, Trifid, and Swan nebulae are each notable for shape, color, and brightness.
I was increasingly tickled with Faylene, whose observing skills, as a relatively new observer, continued to get better and better as we observed.
As newlyweds (only 6+ years), we are still quite taken with our surprise marriage, which is another story, but it causes us to think of ways to write notes to each other. We do that often. So, this time I took the little drawings of the nebulae and arranged them on a frame as a picture-love note. It hangs in her chosen place in the meeting room of our home.
During an October night, we observed a simple sight of a planet and the moon. We often will get up early or wake and go look at the sky in the night for this kind of sight. One of us will wake the other, because neither of us want to miss a nice scene, even if seems common. This picture was rendered at one of those times, so I turned it into another love note for Faylene. I cannot tell you how many times we have observed the moon with a planet during this year and enjoyed the scene together while giving thanks to the Lord, who made both the heavens and the earth. 
By the end of September, I had completed most of the “Three-Stump Observing Site”, which was named for three large cedars that were cut down. The stumps were moved to a location that became the backside of the little manmade hill. After the dirt had settled for several months, I began to develop the second observing area at our home. This one is very accessible for us with groups of observers and has enough room for a Dobsonian telescope. This evening marked “first light” for us to observe from the site that was almost complete, so we were only using our eyes. As we observed the southern sky, I recorded the constellations to celebrate the occasion. Since that time, we have had group after group at the site to see planets and deep sky objects.
We took a much-needed break during two days of November. The second night was ‘smack’ on the Atlantic Ocean. We deliberately got up well after sunset and meandered to a small wooden platform to observe the eastern sky as we listened to the ocean surf. With back light from the hotel, we could see the dune grass, dune fences, and white caps as waves broke on the beach. I did a quick sketch of the constellations of Auriga and Taurus that were rising from the ocean horizon. We were the only people in sight to enjoy the view.
Remember, readers, there is no equation or process known to man to bring about the heavens. But the Bible is clear. God did it by Himself by command, as recorded in Genesis 1. So, we tell others of His wondrous works and are thankful for the opportunities to observe them. May your 2024 be filled with opportunities to do likewise.
Roland
Isaiah 45:11-12
Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: Ask me of things to come:
will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands? I made the earth
and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.
(ESV)
