children - Sacred Space Astronomy

Ultima Thule – resistance is futile

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Deirdre KelleghanNovember 9, 2018

During World Space Week I was invited to do my workshop Pluto WOW !!! for a small group of children . I put the workshop together in order to highlight the incredible images sent back by the New Horizons Spacecraft. This year it was impossible to resist including Ultima Thule the new flyby target of New Horizons. Pluto WOW ! When I was a child there were nine planets in the solar system , that was my reality. Pluto being the farthest planet was almost a myth as there were no proper images of it for many years. The Hubble Space Telescope wonderful as it is only managed unclear nondescript photographs. When New Horizons left Earth to flyby Pluto it was still a proper member of the planet family. Along that journey the status of Pluto was altered forever, when it was demoted to being merely a dwarf planet. New Horizons continued its pioneering journey to discover what Pluto … Continue reading →

Hymns of Faith and Science

Posted on May 29, 2017 by Br. Guy ConsolmagnoMay 29, 2017

A few years ago, I gave an astronomy-themed retreat in the UK and among those attending was Trevor Thorn, who among other things writes hymns. He shared a few of his astronomy-themed hymns with me. Now, I’ll be honest, I find most such mash-ups tend to be pretty cringe-worthy. So I was all the more surprised to read his; they were very good… as you can see, on his blog site, The Cross and the Cosmos. (Which also includes a lot of other faith/astronomy themed art.) One particular bunch were written with kids in mind, and they’re quite fun. He’s “test-run” some of his songs with local church schools in Cambridge. Here’s a short video about that effort: … Continue reading →

Fr. James Kurzynski August 14, 2019 at 4:33 am on What Was Your Experience Of Apollo 11?Incredible and personal response Jim! Thank you for sharing this. I completely forgot about the other "Summer of 69" events that made that summer truly historic for US history.
Fr. James Kurzynski August 14, 2019 at 4:23 am on Great post! It's inspired me to hunt for the Apollo landing sites through my telescope!
Fr. James Kurzynski August 14, 2019 at 4:06 am on Under Summer SkiesYou're absolutely right! Now that I'm starting to get better with the basics of astrophotography with very basic equipment, I've noticed I'm getting outside more, enjoying nature more, and praying better. I once desired to take pictures like I saw in magazines of celestial objects. Now, I'm more interested in...
Fr. James Kurzynski August 13, 2019 at 7:47 am on Discussion: Magnificent Desolation Or Boring Desolation – Is There Room For A Return To The Moon In A Cyberspace World?I think the potential harm needs to be looked at in two directions. The first is the obvious - Would it be ethical to store garbage on the Moon. The second is more subtle - What would our disposition of heart become if we develop the mentality, "We can just...
Bob Prokop August 13, 2019 at 3:49 am on Discussion: Magnificent Desolation Or Boring Desolation – Is There Room For A Return To The Moon In A Cyberspace World?Very good question! I just can't see any harm in polluting a lifeless rock. Besides, it looks like we're going to pollute something no matter what, so wouldn't the Moon be a better choice over the Earth?
Fr. James Kurzynski August 12, 2019 at 6:52 pm on Discussion: Magnificent Desolation Or Boring Desolation – Is There Room For A Return To The Moon In A Cyberspace World?Bob. At the risk of sounding like a "Debbie-Downer," why would we presume it would be ethical to pollute the Moon?
Bob Prokop August 12, 2019 at 9:26 am on Discussion: Magnificent Desolation Or Boring Desolation – Is There Room For A Return To The Moon In A Cyberspace World?There is much value in a return to the Moon, for purely practical reasons: 1. There is much to learn there about the origins of the Earth and our planet's history. How is that practical? Well, science is ALWAYS practical in the long run. Even such seemingly esoteric concepts as...
Jim Cook August 5, 2019 at 9:42 am on What Was Your Experience Of Apollo 11?My apollo-gies. 😉 I’m a bit late posting this. I grew up in the late 50s and 60s — I was in high school during Apollo 11 (and to this day grateful Apollo 11 was timed during mid summer vacation). As far as I can recall, I was born a...
Br. Guy Consolmagno August 5, 2019 at 8:15 am on Under Summer SkiesAll the fancy equipment in the world can’t beat just plain dark skies. I am off to a dark sky site in Ireland (writing this from Heathrow Airport) but of course the weather prediction is for rain all week!
Francis Manion July 18, 2019 at 3:54 pm on We came in peace for all mankindGreat shot! Thanks for posting it.
Br. Guy Consolmagno July 9, 2019 at 6:32 am on What Was Your Experience Of Apollo 11?The interview that Fr. James refers to is available online now at: https://cnstopstories.com/2019/07/05/50-years-on-moon-landing-still-generates-a-wistful-sense-of-wonderment/#more-22098
Christopher M. Graney July 7, 2019 at 4:56 am on The Far Sun – Far Beyond ComprehensionWell, it won't last -- we are already closer to the sun today than we were yesterday! :)
Ed Yepez July 6, 2019 at 9:14 am on The Far Sun – Far Beyond ComprehensionThis is a great post! Truly puts things in perspective, especially as I see a pickup truck in the neighbors driveway. I feel cooler already, both literally and figuratively! Thanks!
Fr. James Kurzynski July 3, 2019 at 10:54 am on What Was Your Experience Of Apollo 11?Great historical perspective Richard! Again, optimism amid a time of history that was short on optimism. Great stuff!
Richard Saam July 3, 2019 at 8:27 am on What Was Your Experience Of Apollo 11?The present use of Coordinated Universal Time(UTC) at the time of the Apollo 11 landing on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC vs the Greenich Mean Time(GMT) indicates our present more universal view. At that time, I was in flight training as a Naval Flight Officer at NAS Pensacola, Fl...
Fr. James Kurzynski July 2, 2019 at 8:34 pm on What Was Your Experience Of Apollo 11?What wonderful memories! I hear a lot of hope, optimism, and a positive sense of the future! How we need that so badly this day and age! Thank you for sharing your thoughts Ed! Did it change the way you saw the world we live in?
Ed Yepez July 2, 2019 at 4:18 pm on What Was Your Experience Of Apollo 11?I was 7, and we were on our way to Colorado from St. Louis for a summer vacation. We stopped in Columbia Mo., went to a dormitory at the University, and watched the landing on a black and white tv with a bunch of college kids in the lobby. To...
Steven Lanoux July 2, 2019 at 3:19 pm on What Was Your Experience Of Apollo 11?I'll be delighted to do that. I can't find a direct email address, though. I know I'm missing it....
Fr. James Kurzynski July 2, 2019 at 2:43 pm on What Was Your Experience Of Apollo 11?One thing you could do is e-mail them to me if you comfortable. I could add them at the end of my post.
Fr. James Kurzynski July 2, 2019 at 2:43 pm on What Was Your Experience Of Apollo 11?Hmmm.... let me check into this for you.

Sacred Space Astronomy

Blog of the Vatican Observatory Foundation

Tag Archives: children

Ultima Thule – resistance is futile

Hymns of Faith and Science

Specola Guestbook: April 8, 1910 – Three Scots

The Sun Illuminates Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción

Across the Universe: Martian Sunrise

In the Sky This Week – August 13, 2019

Discussion: Magnificent Desolation Or Boring Desolation – Is There Room For A Return To The Moon In A Cyberspace World?