On May 8, 1945, America burst into convulsive joy as German General Jodl surrendered to officially conclude World War II in Europe. Soon enough, a multitude of U.S. servicemen would return to civilian life, enjoy the benefits of the G.I. Bill and soon embark in making their mark upon American society.
I include my own father, Marvin amongst this seasoned crowd. God bless his memory, he flew B-17 bombers from Presque Isle Army/Air Force Base to Casablanca, Morocco. He returned to Chicago, married, built a business, moved to the suburbs, raised three children, and reaped the rewards of hard work and hard play as America climbed both to greatness and global responsibility and accountability.
Years later, broadcaster turned author Tom Brokaw would reverently refer to this segment of America as “the greatest generation”. All too soon, regrettably, the sunshine and spirit of victory and sacrifice would vanish in the pervading fear and existential insecurity of both the advent of global communism and the deadly threat of the atom bomb. For decades, the United States remained hostage, held captive to this ominous international drama gripping the lives of every American man, woman, and child.
Culturally, we Americans, collectively, offered creative responses to cope with the new age. Rock and roll, motion picture, radio, television, popular professional sports would combine with unprecedented personal and collective wealth and mobility to change the national landscape.
And the space age would usher in a new dimension both of wonder and skepticism. I am a part of that inheritance, a witness to most interesting times. I’ve come to believe as a core outlook that the exploration of space must go ahead, whether we seek it or not.
The stars of 2014, however much America may differ from the skies of 1945, remain essentially the same. The same patterns remind of the universality of our existence and distinction. The Bigger Dipper climbs confidently, virtually overhead throughout the early evening hours. Bright Winter stars no longer describe the night — replaced by a softer palette of Spring constellations — Leo, Virgo and Libra.
A few unusually bright sparks though dot the night. In the west, mid-way above the horizon, mighty Jupiter still commands local attention as a bright golden star amongst Gemini’s outline. Almost due south, also mid-way up, burns Mars with its unmistakable tiger-orange fire. And very low in the southeast, steady shining Saturn emerges after a long snooze in post midnight visibility. Early birds may still catch ever-bright Venus low in eastern skies.
Two special night sights color the calendar in May. On early Saturday morning, May 24 between 3 and 4 a.m. a rare outburst of meteor fireballs may slowly spurt in predawn skies. Then on the morning of Sunday, May 25, weather permitting, planet Venus gorgeously encounters the ultra-slim crescent Moon before dawn in eastern skies.
To sum it all up, the night sky, in any May season, offers reason for hope and celebration. Take time off your busy end of the school year calendar to remember the words of poet e.e. cummings, who poetically penned:
“i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirit of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
L.W. Berz, astronomy educator at The Francis Malcolm Institute of Easton, encourages one and all to attend the Science Center Open House on Saturday, May 31 from 12-3 p.m. Call 488-5451 for details.
