Begin.

Begin.

My obsession with the skies began during my childhood in the 1990's. I was around 7 or 8 years old and whenever I would be whisked away on family trips, it would be the drive home during the night that I would most look forward to. The world around me ceased to exist as I gazed at the awe inspiring night sky. 

I spent the majority of the drive sitting back as far as I could, legs crossed, and my head resting on the "rear deck" (don't worry, this is the first time I had the need to name that obscure part of the car).  (Thankfully I suffered no long term injuries)

What was I trying to look at?

This.

Curiosity about the world around me and my existence within it lead me to discover my passion for astronomy. I wanted  to know more about the Universe I lived in and what  my  place and scale within it truly was. 

So... I'd like to begin by asking all of you to watch a YouTube video. 

Recommended Settings: 

• Full screen (connected to your TV is even better)
• HD settings maxed out and music/speakers on

But before you do I need you to bear in mind the following:

• This is not computer generated...at all..not even a bit of it
• This is not from a Video Game, Movie or any other piece of Fiction
• This is absolutely 100% real

Here's the link in case you are on mobile: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FG0fTKAqZ5g

That...is where we all live, that not-so-real and that-must-be-from-a-movie looking wonder is our planet earth as seen from the International Space Station. 

This video is truly a prolific moment in the history of modern civilization. A time-lapse that let's anyone experience, for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, what it would be like to see earth from the outside looking in.

That was a perfect example of what this blog is hopefully going to be about. Future posts will show you both the awesome and terrifying wonders of the universe as I share my obsession with all of you.(I may meander in some different related topics at times)

To end, I will leave you with a quote from Carl Sagan, someone who dedicated much of his life trying to bring astronomy to the mainstream (and succeeded)

We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces.- Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

NOTE: Credit for clever title of blog goes to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams
NOTE: Credit for the not as clever URL landing page title of the blog goes to "Rendezvous with Rama" by  Arthur C. Clarke 
NOTE: Both of the above books are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!