When we started to live our modern cosseted lives we lost connections. Connections with nature. We lost an association with the seasons and we lost our bond with the night skies. Streetlight bleach out the wonders of what our ancestors looked up at and gapped in awe.
If you have ever stood in complete darkness somewhere like Shetland or Scillies on a moonless night you will know why the night sky was such an influence on our ancestors. When I first properly saw the Milky Way as a young lad in the sky over Cumbria I was astounded. I have to admit though some details of the heavens remain a mystery to me. Some of the lesser know constellation for instance. Well, if you have an iphone … no longer. At 69p the ‘Night Sky’ programme enables you to point your phone at any heavenly body and it’s named for you. How good is that?
The constellation of ‘Orion’ (The Hunter) in the Northrepps sky showing the bright Sirius in ‘Canis Major’ (Orions Dog) bottom left and Lepus (The Hare) at his feet. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky – anything brighter will be a planet!
Letter From Norfolk 