Last night there was more than a touch of autumn in the North Texas air -- and in the sky as well. In spite of proximity to one minor city, two major cities and the airport that serves them, it was dark enough after midnight that I did not have to guess at the Milky Way's path through Cygnus. And, not only were all the 'hopping stars' to find M31 visible, but so was the 'Great Nebula' itself, at the edge of averted perception.

I happened to be with someone who, in all her 51 years, had not seen our home galaxy with her own eyes -- or if she had, had mistaken it for clouds. It was a revelation to her... and a tiny affirmation for me, to have passed along a small part of the understanding of the sky.