Knitting at the Messier Marathon

Messier Objects are a set of astronomical objects cataloged by French astronomer Charles Messier. How many of them you can see depends upon where you are and when you are. Messier Marathons are when astronomers, like MrKnotty, meet up and set up their telescopes, attempting to find all 110 objects in one night.

MrKnotty decided it was time for me to experience a Messier Marathon so, along with several other Oklahoma astronomers, we set out to Checotah -- that's right. Home of American Idol What's Her Nose With the Blond Hair.

While he set up the telescope, I checked out the scenery.

Then I came back to see he, and all the other astronomers, were still fiddling with their telescopes and comparing electronic gadgets.








So I wandered some more, meeting up with the local wildlife.



Assuming that I am a wuss who would not make it through the entire night, MrKnotty set up a tent and chairs for me. So, unable to resist, I sat down and knit.







Here's Checotah at nightfall. It was really peaceful out there.

One guy brought a huge telescope -- I had to climb a ladder to look through the eyepiece. It was really fun. I saw a spiral galaxy, the Orion Nebula and the rings of Saturn.

Eventually, I did wuss out. I abandoned MrKnotty and went to sleep in the tent. My punishment? The next day when we were driving home, I saw a mole on my neck that I didn't remember having before. Of course it was A TICK!!!!!!!! I made him pull the car over and pull that nasty thing off me. Then I spent the next several days convinced I was going to die of some exotic tick disease. Luckily, I didn't. But still: yuuuuuuuuuuuuck!

Our illusions create the world*

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.

-- Mark Twain

The OU Illusion scarf, another donation to the TASM auction being held this Saturday. Knit by Colorcrazed. Modeled by my Realtor in my theoretical backyard.

If you aren't familiar with illusion knitting, the image you see on the right side of the scarf pops out only from an angle. So looking head-on, this appears to be a red and white striped scarf. From an angle, you see the OU logo. Cool, right?


*This title is derived from a quote by the French writer Didier Cauwelaert. "It is our illusions that create the world."