Hello Friend,

    Five year old kids can be fascinating.

Especially when they are not your own.

The other day, while waiting in line in the local coffee
shop here in the North Country,  a place run by "Crazy Lloyd", whom  I am pretty sure is an ex motorcycle gang member,
but that's just a guess..... a 5 year old little girl stood staring into the glass counter.

Of course, the glass cabinet is full of donuts, cakes, muffins.

And this little girl spotted her heart's desire: A chocolate muffin.

She repeated several times: "I want that chocolate muffin".   "I want that chocolate muffin".

Her mother, did what any mother would do to regain their sanity,  and bought the kid the muffin.

And, if you have young kids, or you have in the past, you likely would have done the same thing.

I know I did when my two daughters were very young.

The lesson here is one of persistence. 

          And the hobby of astronomy requires both persistence and patience.   You can't be an overnight
success in learning the night sky.

In fact, a greater appreciation and learning of the night sky takes place over time.  Don't be in a hurry
to learn the basics. 

      Toronto amateur astronomer and Chris Vaughan pointed out something to me the other day which
I found to be really interesting. 

As someone who rarely leaves the city to observe, my GOTO  (telescope)has shown me objects I could never find without it, and I've STILL learned plenty about the sky.

That's a good point Chris makes. Even in the light polluted skies of Toronto, you can still learn the night sky.

It just takes a little planning, on what to look for, before you go out, and a little persistence in finding it.

Using a computerized goto telescope can aid you in your quest. 

And now that these telescopes are even easier to use,
and relatively inexpensive, what are you waiting for?

Clear Skies,

Ray "Muffin" Khan

PS Today is the last day of the "Capture the Universe" Sale. Check it out before it dissappear's later today.