Above Us Only Sky Starlight, star bright, The first star I see tonight; I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight.
14 PASSIONS | FALL 2020
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by Kait Burgan photos of the night sky by Chris Boar
hile this late 19th century nursery rhyme is familiar to almost everyone, the galaxies, stars, and planets that shine brightly in the skies above our heads are not nearly as well known. The mystery of the night sky has made it a focus of study since ancient times and astronomy is one of the oldest and most complex of the natural sciences. Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Hubble, and countless others spent their lifetimes studying the heavens. Today students attending the University of Victoria have an opportunity to receive a degree in physics and astronomy utilizing one of the largest optical telescopes (0.8 m)
