On The Fly

In this episode, Shaping the World—Within by Patrick Ball The world has gotten very good . . . at interrupting us. It lives in our pockets. Buzzing. Vibrating. Tapping us on the shoulder with breaking news, political friction, global crises, and a steady stream of what’s gone wrong since breakfast. It’s a kind of “gotcha” world — designed to keep us looking down. At the screen. At the fear. And, every so often, at the clock . . . wondering how the day slipped past so quickly. But here at On the Fly , we take a slightly different posture. Not denial. Not disengagement. Just a small, intentional tilt of the head. First—there’s the power of the lens. You still get to choose where you aim your attention. While the world debates the headlines, you can look past the pale. Point a telescope at the Milky Way , and you’re not escaping reality—you’re widening it. Wonder doesn’t erase worry. But it reminds us that worry isn’t the whole picture. Then there’s the quiet strength of small th...

In this episode, Oh, the Sights You'll See! When the Clouds Flee! Oh, the May Gray and June Gloom, what a plight! For sky-watchers longing for stars in the night! Your telescopes sighing, all dusty and sad, "Oh, where are the heavens? This weather is bad!" The California coast, with its marine layer so thick, Plays hide-and-seek games, a mischievous trick! But good news is coming, as summer draws near, A cosmic grand show, to banish all fear! That misty old blanket, it loves to entwine, Our sunny, bright days, with a cool, foggy shine. But nature, you see, has a plan, it is true, Building anticipation for me and for you! For lo and behold, as the days stretch so long, And summer air warms, where the clouds don't belong, The core of the Galaxy, vibrant and grand, Will soon grace our skies, all across the whole land! With billions of stars, and with nebulae bright, And dark dusty lanes, a magnificent sight! From Carlsbad and Vista, when twilight fades, The Milky Way...

Beyond June Gloom: The Milky Way Awaits! ✨🌌 Has the seemingly endless marine layer got your telescope feeling neglected? For us sky-watchers on the beautiful California coast, May Gray and June Gloom have played a persistent game of hide-and-seek with our celestial views. But there's good news tonight: as summer officially arrives, a stunning cosmic spectacle is about to reveal itself, and you absolutely won't want to miss it! We know the drill: that persistent marine layer turning our sunny days into cool, misty ones. It's a hallmark of our coastal climate, and while it's kept our telescopes under wraps, consider it nature’s way of building epic anticipation for the celestial show that’s about to unfold The Return of the Galactic Core! (Photo courtesy of Gemini) As the days grow longer and the summer air warms, those stubborn clouds will begin to dissipate, revealing a breathtaking sight: the core of our very own Milky Way galaxy! That's right, the vibrant heart...