Here is the abridged version of the ways the night sky inspires me. In what ways does it inspire you?

10. The Constellations

I love to head outside with my Planisphere to scope out the constellations on a clear crisp night.

9. The Moon

As a little girl, I had a telescope and my Dad and I would take it outside and point it toward the sky. We couldn’t see much more than the constellations and the craters of the moon, but as a kid, it seemed like I was on Apollo 11. Now, it is one of my favorite photographic subjects. The moon holds a special place in my heart.

8. Artistic Inspiration

The night sky has inspired artists, writers, poets, musicians, and dreamers for millennia. That fact in itself inspires me.

7. Their Universality

No matter who you are, the color of your skin, your nationality, your gender, your station in life, or any of the other categories that divide the human race the splendor of the sky humbles us all.

6. THIS

The Horse Head Nebula. Spectacular.

5. Meteor Showers

Every year I look forward to the Perseid and the Geminid showers specifically. They give a spectacular show during their peak. However, there are a few others throughout the year that are beautiful if you are able to see them. I remember the first time I saw a “shooting star,” it was so exciting!

4. THIS

Cabins. Camp Fires. S’mores. Friends. A Vast Ocean Of Stars. Heart-to-Heart Conversation. What More Could One Ask For?

3. The Stars

As a child, I was terrified of the dark, but as an adult, I have come to know the one who ordained the sun to set and placed the stars in their place. Now the beauty of it all overtakes me.

2. THIS

The Sombrero Galaxy is my favorite galaxy. It is just so spectacular! Hubble has provided so many incredible photos of the heavens and this one in particular stands out to me for its brilliance.

1. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” - Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

Knowing the one who created the stars, nebulae, and galaxies makes their splendor even more breathtaking. God has designed each heavenly body specifically and perfectly and He holds them all in place. The fact that He designed such beauty and then took the time to create man and calls us the “crowning jewel” of all of creation is incredibly humbling. I don’t know how one could look at the majesty of the stars and see anything except the work of an incredible God.