The Orionids

I visited a friend today at her apartment. One of the curious items in a living room filled with curious items was a telescope. Now, my friend doesn't seem the type to spend hours gazing into the heavens. However, she has used the instrument on occasion. I didn't have an opportunity today to talk at length with her about the telescope, except to learn that it's challenging to properly use.

I wonder if she'll use the telescope to view the Orionids. They're a meteor display reputedly derived from the remains of Halley's Comet. The Orionids will be in this week's night sky, although ambient moonlight may minimize the opportunities to see the heavenly show.

Telescopes remind one of speculative activities that have been conducted since human beings walked on two legs instead of all fours. These astronomical investigations have occurred in Aboriginal Australia, Imperial China, the mysterious Mayan period in Mexico, and the Islamic crescent. They tap our deepest, universal sense of curiosity about the world we know, and the endless reaches of what we do not know.