Sunday February 14th, 2010 The Night Sky

There’s nothing like standing outdoors on a quiet evening and just looking at the stars. It reminds you of how big the universe really is and makes you feel very small. I also like to lie in bed and look at the sky. It inspired me to write this column.

Stars

Did you see the meteor showers last August? They were pretty spectacular. I still think of them as falling stars, but they are actually meteoroids. The trail of light they produce is a meteor. After seeing 3 or 4 of them I thought – that’s it? Then I reminded myself of how rarely I have seen even one of them.

All The Stars In The Sky: Native Stories From The Heavens by C.J. Taylor.

This children’s book is described as a fascinating collection of stories inspired by the night sky. It features legends from the Ojibwa, Salish and Cherokee among others. There is an Inuit story about the Moon and his sister, the Sun. While out hunting one evening Shaman is taken by dogsled to the skies and the home of the Moon. Once there he sees family and friends he has lost and realizes he is in the Land of the Dead. Later the sun offers him seal meat and the opportunity to never be cold or hungry again. He must choose between staying there or returning to his earthly family.

Northern Lights

I don’t see the Northern Lights as often as I used to. Prior to his death, my father or I would often phone each other and say – go outside to see the northern lights. There is something magical to behold in watching the colours shifting and dancing in the sky.

Let The Northern Lights Erase Your Name by Vendela Vida.

Reviewers use a range of words to describe this novel from haunted and bleak to searing and beautiful. When she was 14 Clarissa Iverton’s mother left her and her developmentally disabled brother with their father, and disappeared. Now 14 years later her father dies suddenly. While searching through family papers on the day of his funeral, she stumbles across her birth certificate and discovers another man’s name in place of her father’s. With this discovery she embarks on a search for her natural father that takes her above the Arctic Circle to Lapland. It’s a land of reindeer, ice hotels and of course, the northern lights. Here Clarissa finds out the truth about her mother’s past and must decide where she’ll spend her future.

Solar Eclipses

If you happen to be visiting Easter Island on July 11, 2010 you’ll be there for a total solar eclipse. According to the NASA website, this eclipse won’t be visible from North America. You’ll have to wait until August 21, 2017 if you want to view the eclipse from Canada. As always, never look directly at the sun without proper eye protection.

Every Soul A Star by Wendy Mass

A total solar eclipse is a life changing event for three teenagers. Their lives converge at the Moon Shadow Campground, which is owned by the parents of 13 year old Ally. Bree, an aspiring model, is dragged to the site by her parents, who are planning to take over the management of the campground. Without a mall in site, Bree isn’t too happy about a life in the wilderness. Introverted teen, Jack, is brought to the campground by a teacher. Set against the excitement of the upcoming solar eclipse, the teenagers bond and face the upcoming changes in their lives. We don’t carry this book, but you can borrow it through our Interlibrary Loan service.

Hopefully that’s enough to help get you started in your journey to the night sky. I hope everyone has a very Happy Valentine’s Day. It might be the perfect time to go outdoors with your sweetie and just gaze at the stars.

Karen Craib is a Library Technician