Stargazing with My Nephew

My new bronze pocket sextant

As much as I wish he wouldn’t spend his money on me, my teenage nephew surprised me this week with a bronze pocket sextant, a thoughtful gift that means the world to me. It seems he was paying attention the other night when I was prattling on about the moon and stars. I'm not sure what changed, but whenever I tried to share my hobbies with him before—be it philately, entomology, or anything else—he showed little to no interest. Yet, for some reason, watching me jot notes in my leather-bound observation log and attempting to chart the heavens with a makeshift cardboard astrolabe captured his imagination.

Perhaps it was my joke about the impending meteor collision with Earth, talk of space aliens, or simply the unusually clear night, but he appeared genuinely interested and put down his phone long enough to admire the celestial night sky. His questions reminded me of my childhood when my paternal grandmother sparked my initial curiosity in astronomy and astrology (among other things) and taught me about the constellations. I hope this will help expand his mind, deepen his knowledge about the universe, and draw him away from some of the fatuous distractions afflicting so many young people today. Additionally, it would be nice to share common interests beyond simply rooting for the same local sports teams.