There was something especially heartening about the universal awe and enthusiasm that greeted last Thursday's rare northern lights display here.
For many, seeing the aurora borealis in such vivid color was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. People stopped their cars on the side of the road, sought out dark places and open fields, walked into backyards and driveways and looked skyward at a phenomenon that was almost otherworldly in its beauty. It was a moment to put everything aside — homework, dinner, our differences — and utter a collective "Wow!"
And, boy, did we need that.
There will be a lot of the opposite in the coming weeks and months, but this week, may we direct your attention to another once-in-a-lifetime: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, expected to be visible with the naked eye in the clear western sky not long after sunset for the next few days. According to NASA's Earth Observatory, this bright comet "likely traveled from the outer reaches of our solar system." Tonight is also a full supermoon, by the way.
And another comet will come into view beginning next Thursday. "Look low in the eastern sky just before sunrise," instructs the website arstechnica.com, which says it will then reappear in the western sky about a week later.
At a time when there's so much that we disagree about, when the country is on edge awaiting an election that promises to bring upheaval no matter the outcome, when every gathering and interaction is a potential political minefield, it is nice to be reminded that we can still find common moments of peace and delight.