This article was contributed by David Baumgartner as part of a local series on astronomy. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
A LONG TIME COMING, BUT USA IS BACK …
It all started when God made the earth, well let’s not go back that far. Let’s move up just a little to the mid 50’s when this young boy, let’s call him David, who was someone I knew quite well, was in his early teens getting more than a little excited about all the scientific talk about going into space. At that time, we were lagging behind the Russians, wondering if we would ever catch up. Knowing these trips wouldn’t take place for many years, I was worried that it wouldn’t happen until I was long gone, therefore missing out on the whole adventure.
So I thought, what can I do to help to get the ball rolling? At that time there wasn’t much on the market to help me out on my new adventure. I did find some CO2 cartridges that I had an idea for. Well, my scientific feat was not to send anyone up in space, that would have been a little aggressive. My idea was to strap my CO2 engine to a long stick and ignite it and see what happens, how high it will go, and where. Saying I was a little naive at the time would be putting it mildly. For I lived only a half block from San Benito St. on the corner of Hawkins St. and Washington St. But, not a worry in my mind as I set my rocket up in the back yard, called “Cape Rentragmuab”, my last name spelled backwards. Hey, I was just a kid…
It was dark, so no one could see me as the rocket blast off from the Cape. I franticly ran out to the street just in time to watch my creation come crashing down on the top of this unsuspecting driver’s car. It was my favorite car at the time, a 1957 convertible hardtop. I might guess it is still my favorite. Here I stand bravely behind a large maple tree watching the car pull over with a man getting out, quite confused I might add. And here I stand behind my protective maple tree torn between laughing or wondering if I soiled myself. Well, either way I got away free.
Now you would think that I would have learned a lesson here. Well, what do you think? I was just a kid.
It must have been a year or so that went by when exciting things started showing up at Muenzers and the Five and Dime stores. A Rocket kit. Just assemble, light engines, and off you go. The rocket would reach its height; the parachute would open and fall softly to earth. No problem here. What could possibly go wrong?
The day came when I saved up enough money to buy my next space adventure, a two foot long Space Rocket. It took me weeks to put it together. I didn’t even paint it, too much of a hurry to get out there and set it off.
So the night finally comes where I get to put my newest creation to the test. Here the rocket sits waiting for ignition. All the hours I put into assembling it was well worth the time spent.
Now here I sit, not too far from my protective maple tree, ready to light the fuse. Finally it is lit. Cape Rentragmuab, we have lift off. So excited was I as it reaches a height of seven feet and makes an abrupt 90 degree right turn headed across Hawkins Street to my neighbor’s home. Now this home had a very huge front window, I would imagine it cost a pretty penny. There I am, once again hiding behind my maple tree. This time there was no doubt about my soiling myself, for my prized new rocket that took me hours to assemble, that only lasted three seconds in the air, was now sitting on the neighbor’s living room floor covered with shattered glass. Never got caught for that mishap either. It seems I just can’t do any wrong. Just like our President elect. Just thought I’d throw that in there. I must admit that the next day I did go over to the neighbors’ and admit that I was sorry and that it was my friend’s fault, but that didn’t go over well. OK, I said… it was I Commander David in charge of the flight and that I would eventually pay for my mistake.
Till this day I still wonder what was going through that neighbor’s mind when they saw this rocket blast through their front window. I picture the rocket still sitting there today on the neighbor’s living room floor not wanting to touch it and wondering what’s going t come out of that alien ship from god knows where.
I’m sorry, this article was supposed to lead me into the story about showing that we are back to accomplishing bigger and better things. Look out Mars, here we come….
So, watch out which direction you point your rocket.
Stay safe, Happy New Year, and Clear Skies,
Things to look for this month:
Jan 1 Moon passes 1.1° south of Pluto
Jan 3 Quadrantids meteor shower peaks
Jan 3 Moon passes 1.4° south of Venus
Jan 4 Earth is at perihelion (91.4 million miles from the
Sun0
Jan 4 Moon passes 0.7° north of Saturn
Jan 5 Moon passes 1.1° north of Neptune
Jan 6 First Quarter Moon
Jan 7 Moon is at perigee (230,113 miles from earth)
Jan 9 Moon passes 4° north of Uranus
Jan 10 Moon passes 5ׄ° north of Jupiter
Jan 12 Mars comes closest to Earth (59.7 miles away)
Jan 13 Full Moon
Jan 13 Moon passes 0.2° north of Mars
Jan 15 Mars is at opposition
Jan 19 Venus passes 3° north of Saturn
Jan 20 Moon is at apogee (251,219 miles from Earth)
Jan 20 Moon passes 0.1° south of Spica
Jan 21 Mars 2° south of Pollux
Jan 21 Last Quarter Moon
Jan 24 soon passes 0.3° south of Antares
Jan 29 New Moon