“If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Planet Patriots, appreciating the wonders of the night sky and the wider universe is essential to our lives and our hope for world peace and environmental responsibility.

To look into the night sky is to survey distant gardens in which the elements of life are ripening, and your body is a composite harvest from those cosmic fields. – Curt Stager

By understanding the vastness of the universe through a deep time perspective, using both Earth-based telescopes and space telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Web Space Telescope, we better understand our place in the cosmos. Through the exploration of the solar system, and by studying the wider universe, collaborative efforts provides an opportunity for nations to work together in international cooperation through participation in joint missions, thereby promoting peace and understanding between governments and their people.

Celebrating the Night Sky:

• Songs About the Night Sky and Space – My collection of songs focused on astronomy and space exploration.
• Night Sky Tourist – the  podcast and blog of Vicky Derksen, a writer, educator, and Dark Sky advocate dedicated to helping you discover the night sky in a whole new way.
• The Sky at Night: Easy Enjoyment from Your Backyard by Tim B. Hunter (University of Arizona Press, 2023) – This excellent book provides advice to help novices take up the hobby of watching the night sky with the naked. eye. Expand your knowledge of the cosmos even without a telescope!
• Astronomers for Planet Earth – Astronomers have a unique point-of-view. Stretching the minds and imaginations of the public daily, astronomers trigger awe and expand our consciousness with an astronomical perspective. We can turn this perspective inwards, back to Earth, bringing into focus the uniqueness, wonder and fragility of our only home—and the critical need to protect it & its climate.
• The Planetary Society – Empowers individuals to be effective advocates for space exploration. 
• Dark Sky International – DarkSky International restores the nighttime environment and protects communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation.
  • Dark Sky Southern Arizona Chapter – Covering Pima and Cochise Counties
• Myths about Crime and Safety in a Night Sky Community – There is a myth that a brightly lit nighttime environment improves safety and security. However, studies have not found evidence that increased outdoor lighting deters crime or increases safety. Glare from street lights diminishes the eyes’ ability to adapt to low-light conditions, making driving under them less safe.
• NASA Home Page – NASA not only explores the wonders of other planets and the universe, but also the health of Planet Earth.
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day – Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Should be part of your daily ritual! Few exercises result in better consciousness expansion than this!
  • NASA – Citizen Science – NASA’s citizen science projects are collaborations between scientists and interested members of the public.
  • Skywatching – NASA Science –  Monthly Skywatching Highlights, What to Look for in the Sky,  Tools for Skywatching, and Skywatching FAQ. 
  • Observing with NASA – Don’t have a telescope? NASA allows you to Control your OWN telescope using the MicroObservatory Robotic Telescope Network! Explore the Universe with telescopes you control over the Internet!
  • In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limon – As “water worlds,” Earth and Europa share “mysteries below our sky,” so this beautiful poem is as much about Earth as it is about Jupiter’s moon Europa, which NASA will be heading for in October, 2024.
  • NASA’s Night Sky Network – The Night Sky Network is a nationwide coalition of amateur astronomy clubs bringing the science, technology, and inspiration of NASA’s missions to the general public.
    • Sun City Oro Valley Astronomy Club – My local club, where my wife Janet and I serve as board members.
• Space.com – Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and even science fiction.
• SkyMaps.com – Recommended Books & Products for Skywatchers, plus free downloads of sky maps.
• International Dark Sky Discovery Center – A soon-to-be constructed educational center in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
• Planetary Exploration by Janet Wood – As a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, Janet presents public programs about NASA’s space exploration missions and explains why we need to explore space.
• 55 Years of NASA and Star Trek Connections – For the past 50+ years, the science fiction franchise Star Trek has influenced scientists, engineers, and astronauts as a primary inspiration for their desire to be involved in astronomy and space exploration. 
• Star Trek Memory Alpha –  Since its beginning, the science fiction franchise Star Trek has been an inspiration for peaceful space exploration, with the United Federation of Planet’s “Starfleet” having its  main goal to explore the universe for scientific reasons. Thus, Star Trek provides an inspirational, positive look at the future, in contrast to the dystopian future contemplated by much other contemporary science fiction.  This Memory Alpha website is a collaborative project to create the most definitive, accurate, and accessible encyclopedia and reference for everything related to Star Trek.