Man In The Moon

Juneau, Alaska sits in the middle of a northwestJuneau Observatory, Michael Orelove. For an instant I
coastal rainforest in a maritime climate, receiving anfelt a little heady. He enthusiastically added, "I will teach
average of 222 days of rain per year. Clouds dropyou how to run and operate the machine that holds
onto the "hills of the Tlingit". According to Ben, a localthe stars." What a priceless opportunity! Of course, I
native, "The transplants," he chuckled, "call those hillsagreed. Neither of us confirmed how long.Astronomy is
"mountains." The sky can't be seen, but people still seea valuable tool. It raises pubic awareness of science
within the range of the microclimate bubbles andthrough education and introduces scientific concepts
pockets, when the clouds allow it. Misty rain during anyand the process of scientific thinking to students at all
given day just doesn't let up.But this day was a "rare"levels.According to The National Academies Press (
sunny day. Telescopes were set up outside on theunder funding of astronomy is a growing concern
concrete pads outside of Harborview School the nightcausing the United States to lose its leadership position
of the show so patrons could view the sun. It was 7:00in those fields. Demographic numbers impact funding;
p.m. The sun was high. It was Alaska in June.Acombined U.S. membership in the American
priceless preview of this planet's premium star startedAstronomical Society (AAS) and American Physical
the evening's performance. One telescope was set toSociety, Division of Astrophysics (APS) in 1998 was
view sunspots, and the other to view solar flares. Thisaround 6500.There are 498 Planetariums across the
was personal equipment belonging to the Planetarium'sUnited States. Whatever Federal funding was
curator, Michael Orelove.I was the first on the scene toreceived for these ground-based astronomy facilities
see the star show. Well, I wasn't alone. Michael waswas provided by the National Science Foundation,
there. Being a scientist he wears a nutty professoraccording to a 1991 report. Space research is funded
look and wears it well. His attire was apropos; the shirtthrough the National Aeronautics and Space
was speckled with dancing yellow swirls resemblingAdministration. The figure from state and private funds
pools of sunspots on a red background. He is a tallcame in at $190 million a year. ( three planetariums in
man with short, wiry, gray hair. Effervescent energyAlaska, all housed in schools, provide on going
oozes from his pores even animating his shirt as heeducation for Alaskan youth. Corporate sponsors
flitted about. "We may be the only ones who show upprovide major funding for Alaska's Planetariums, and
for this since it's such a sunny day," he said as hededicated curators add to the mix, sometimes in what
eyed me over his wire-rim glasses.After thatmight be considered "eccentric" ways.According to
statement, we were both surprised when an unusualMichael the state doesn't offer much, if any, support.
drove of avid star-finders began appearing. As thoughVolunteers are needed. Right now Michael is the only
previous coaching had taken place, many helpedone. He even went as far as Chicago to complete a
Michael hand out flyers, star charts, and crayons. ISolstice Project he was working on. He accomplished
helped with instruction to the children on the use of amany things on the trip; a release from the grip of
simple solar viewer and felt like a kid myself when I"creative block", a visit and stay with his brother,
fully realized the earth's movement as the sun's imagecamaraderie and bonding with his eleven year old
drifted off the paper. Skeptics thought spots on theniece, Eden, and along with her help, the completion of
lens were lint, but wowed at the flaming limbs of firethe Solstice Project. Michael is a transplant to Alaska
when they saw storms on the sun.Personally, I washimself.While in Chicago Michael had a lengthy
mesmerized by the sun's image as it moved off theconversation with Ron Farrell at Bethany Sciences in
paper. I swooned and was thankful for gravity,Connecticut. He had racked his brain for ideas for the
because I felt pulled by the sun and earth at the sameproject long enough and suddenly the "nutty professor"
time. For one fleeting moment, even though it wasimage took hold of him. He even thought it was zany,
sunny, I was in a mist (mythst). Heightened awarenessbut he paid $1,000.00 for a bag of rocks. Not just any
occurred and I realized our language in describing therocks, mind you. What we had here were authentic
rise and set of the sun is a common mistake. The sunand certified rocks from Mars and a fragment from
appears to rise and set, when in fact, our earth moves,the Moon.Fragments were taped to certificates
and we take it for granted.With over forty inMichael and Eden created together. Michael's face
attendance Michael's excitement filtering into hissmiles happily on the upper right corner and he has a
dialogue, that stumbled along with his feet. He wastitle. It is now, "Man in the Moon". Michael in his
thrown for a loop. Perhaps he couldn't see in the darkplanetarium world has control over the sun. His respite
to set the longitudes and latitudes of the star-finder, or,from controlling clouds during usual days of mist is
perhaps he found himself in the common Juneau mistfound inside this world. Michael causes the sun to rise
for other reasons.and set, where and for how long. I too am a proud
Before beginning, he asked, "Are you single, oh, andowner of a piece of Mars and the Moon and I couldn't
are you a local? May I call you, or you can just comebe happier.The night of the presentation I received a
down here and become a volunteer. You can be mymessage.
assistant. Here's my card." Printed on the card was Mt.