Today is Astronomy Day.

Across the country, people who have never looked through a telescope are getting their chance today to gaze at the heavens. The day was first proclaimed in 1973 by Doug Berger, president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California, with the idea of sharing the joy of astronomy with everyone. Berger’s idea was to take “astronomy to the people” and set up telescopes where the people were—shopping malls, street corners in the city, parks, and other public places.

It was an instant success. The public was hooked on stargazing. Once people got a glimpse of the stars through the portable telescopes, they wanted more. So when the local observatories held open houses, hundreds flocked to see more through larger and more sophisticated telescopes.

Throughout the centuries, humankind has been fascinated by the stars and the planets. From the time that God promised Abraham that he would have as many descendants as stars in the sky, we have fixed our eyes on the skies. Ancient stargazers thought they could foretell the future by looking into the skies, much like today’s astrologers. But God warned his people back in Bible times (and us) not to be “seduced by [the stars] and worship them. The Lord your God designated these heavenly bodies for all the peoples of the earth.”

Rather, when we gaze into the night sky, we should remember the One who named and placed each star there. Such heavenly contemplation should instill in us wonder at God’s awesome handiwork and his regard for us. Upon such reflection, the psalm-writer concluded: “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have set in place—what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? (Psalm 8:3, 4).

He counts the stars and calls them all by name (Psalm 147:4).

To Do

Find a telescope so you can do a little stargazing tonight.

Also on this day . . .

1607—Jamestown was established by English settlers, led by Capt. John Smith.

1804—Lewis and Clark left St. Louis for their trek to the Pacific Coast.

1973—The United States launched Skylab 1, its first manned space station.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.