In my younger days, I was big into astronomy, telescopes, and astrophysics, and I would salivate over pictures like these. I still do, without a doubt. How can anyone not be awe-inspired by them? What an immense and awesome universe this is! But in my older, more diseased state, I have these strange creeping thoughts.

I remember once when I had my wisdom teeth taken out. The oral surgeon gave me intravenous valium, and it knocked me out completely. I remember him saying, “Count backwards from 99″. Well, I got to about 93 and then he said, “We’re done! It took two hours, but I bet you’re thinking: when I did I take ‘em out, aren’t you?”. Well, yes I certainly did think that. It was as if no time had passed at all. An utterly dreamless sleep. I began to believe that is what death would be like. But if death is like that, than however long the universe lasts – even hundreds of quintillions of years, it would pass in an instant, wouldn’t it? It would be as if the universe had never existed at all. So… how can consciousness not be important, physically? Of course, that assumes that the age of the universe is finite. I cannot even begin to speculate what would happen, if time was infinite.

Don’t get me wrong. For all practical purposes, I’m an fervent atheist geek who longs for warp drive and a Tardis of his own. But…humbly asked: what’s really going on here?

Try looking at night! Just kidding.

Actually M83 is rather low on the horizon (but can be seen at the proper time) for us up in Massachusetts. It is essentially between Virgo and Centaurus. Even then, this time of year it is effectively in the direction of the Sun. So a no-go.

In your 4.5″ newt, you can certainly see some galaxies. Stick to the Messier (Mxx) galaxies for a treat. At this time of year, shoot for Andromeda/M31. Very big and very bright (and close) as far as galaxies are concerned. For galaxies it is important to have clear, transparent skies with as little light pollution as possible. Light pollution is the bane of galaxy viewing. Those darn elusive faint fuzzies. The Whirlpool/M51 is another beauty. it is circumpolar so potentially visible most of the year. If you have the horizon for it. The higher in the sky it is (at the apex), the better. The closer to the horizon, the worse (more atmosphere you are looking through).

Have fun!

M83 is pretty close to the sun these days. Look low on the south horizon before dawn starting in late December.

Bruce Berger

Lots of them. Some human sized.

We could live in them. (nudge, wink)

We will probably go one day.

That’ll be something, won’t it?

Thanks.

Gord

M83 is in the constellation Hydra. Check your star chart for visibility from your location.