That was a great story. Naked eye viewing of the heavens is always rewarding -- but at times is spectacularly more rewarding than at others!

Where I live --Central California -- the sky is usually semi-opaque, with only the brightest stars visible to the naked eye -- most of the time. I have never seen the Milky Way from my "home" sky and doubt I ever will.

First time I did see it, I was standing on a beach on the west coast of Florida near Venice. It was astonishing, extremely bright, and unforgettable.

Since then, I drove one night through the high plateau lands of Wyoming, with the Milky Way seeming to serve as an arching guide toward our destination.

Years later, driving through Northern New Mexico, and then one night in Chaco Canyon, it was impossible not to be moved by the sight of the night sky. A star party in Chaco added to the thrill, but I confess that the telecopic views, while quite fine, could not compare with the naked eye view. And as we watched the heavens wheel overhead, we thought about what our "primitive" ancestors must have experienced.

Oh yes. And M31! It's pretty amazing itself!

Thanks for sharing that story.