The Night Sky

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 410, 2 May 1947, Page 8

The Night Sky

HE talks on popular astronomy promise to be of special interest judging by the first of them, "The Night Sky in April," given by I. L. Thomsen, Director of the Carter Observatory, Wellington. What I liked about this ytalk was that it was composed of nothing but information, and (save for the

legend of Orion) of nothing but facts. The listener had to concentrate his attention not to miss salient points, and in this-connection the map of the night sky published in The Listener was of immense assistance in locating the various stars and planets mentioned in the talk. Knowing next to nothing about astronomy, I suppose I may call myself the average lay listener for whom these talks were prepared, and I know that other listeners besides myself will find them an excellent introduction to a fascinating subject which, pursued in a more scientific way, may lead the devotee into very deep waters indeed. There is one point which I should, however, like to have elucidated. Since the light by which we see the stars has taken so long to reach us, are we now gazing at them as they were hundreds of years ago? May we be, in fact, looking at objects which have long since changed their shape, nature, and position, and which, as we see them, do not really exist at all? If the eye of any astronomer, professional or amateur, catches this paragraph,-would he be kind enough to elucidate?