The Luminaria

by Jane Houston

My mother made me a ceramic luminaria for my birthday last year. It's not just a paper bag with a candle in it, but one made of clay. She paddled and smoothed the clay, and shaped it free-form into a globe. But that's not all. The opening at the top has two stars cut into the clay, one inside the other, which imprints a beautiful multi-star shaped glow on the oak ceiling of my living room. There are also comets, shooting stars, a crescent moon, stars, a planet and the sun shaped and cut out of the clay. She also fashioned the Star of Bethlehem, from which the candle light flows brightly, which reminds me of my mother when I look at it. Fired and then smoke glazed, it is a celestial wonder in its own right.

Sometimes I place a red flashlight in my luminaria. Tonight it sits nearby lit by a candle. Tonight the luminaria shares the night with luna. I wanted to take a look at the moon tonight, and enjoy that stretch of the imagination which I call the view of Mare Orientale. I can see the Cordillera Range in the foreground and the Rooks (Thanks Jeff) in the distance, including that really big peak. That's about all in that area. But even more spectactular right now is the north pole of the moon. I've not spent much time up there, but it is really beautiful tonight. The crater Anaxagoras is in full rayed spendor! Past this crater are many splendored things I have never looked at before. To the East, Langrenus is a study in perfect symmetry on the terminator, Posiedonus is a bright ringed beauty right now. I'm moving the 6 inch Schwaar Companion reflector, with a 6MM Vixen Lanthanum eyepiece around the terminator and enjoying the views. The bright spots are out tonight! I love that the craters at the South Pole are named Scott and Amundsen, and the craters at the North Pole are named Byrd and Peary!

Well it's getting late, and my luminaria is still shining brightly, competing for my attention with the outside wonders. I'd like to do a rough sketch of that North Pole region - and maybe some others, so I'll sign off now. It's a damn fine night for mooning!