STAR CURTAIN watercolor, 24" X 33"
There is no moon and the sky is crystal clear, The ancient light from Andromeda, our "sister galaxy" is plainly visible in the northwest sky. The light from this object is the most ancient that we can see with unaided eyes, and yet the Andromeda Galaxy, the Milky Way's twin sister, is our closest galactic neighbor. As I gaze on the tiny saucer shaped smear with my fine nautical binoculars, the light from billions of spiraling stars combined 4.6 million years ago to cover the distance. As the tiny cone of far traveling photons reach my retinas they reveal an object that looks present, vivid and soul piercing.