Through the Lens: My First Moon Viewing Through A Telescope

Hey, Hivers! What's up? It's @makiyumee here and I am back with a very special blog today. Yup, it is so special that I could not move on for days after I had experienced what I am going to be sharing to all this time. Now, sit back and relax. Enjoy reading and here we go!

It was a typical evening after class—it was evening since our last subject ended around 6 pm. The hallway outside our room was filled already with the familiar sound of students chatting as they left the campus. My friends and I gathered our things, ready to head home, but something unusual caught our attention. That evening, Medellin National High School was hosting a boy scout camping event. The once quiet school grounds were now buzzing with activity. Scouts were setting up tents, lighting campfires, and enjoying the cool night breeze.

My friends and I observed the boys having fun while doing their tasks. Some were already cooking their dinner, while the others seemed to be practicing for a performance since they were dancing and singing. The lively atmosphere brought a sense of excitement, and we couldn’t help but linger a bit longer to watch. As we wandered around the campus, something else grabbed our curiosity. A group of teachers had gathered near a telescope placed on a small stand. They were all chatting eagerly, taking turns peering into the telescope. From afar, it looked like they were deeply fascinated by whatever they were observing. This piqued our interest.

“What are they looking at?” one of my friends asked, her voice full of curiosity. My friend, who also had no idea what was going on, told me that she was also curious to know what it was all about. We couldn’t just walk away without finding out. So, we decided to approach them, quietly hoping we wouldn’t disturb whatever they were doing. As we got closer, the teachers noticed us and smiled. One of them explained that they were observing the moon and Saturn through the telescope. Hearing this, we grew even more curious. I mean, who would not get curious if the teachers were talking about a planet and a moon here?

“Can we also look?” I heard one of my friends asked hesitantly and just like me, she was also curious. The teachers kindly nodded and gestured for us to line up. There was already a small queue of students waiting for their turn, and we eagerly joined in. My heart started to race as I realized that I would soon see the moon up close—not just the glowing orb we always see in the night sky but its detailed surface with craters and textures.

While waiting in line, we talked excitedly about what it might look like. Would it be as beautiful as we imagined? Would Saturn’s rings really be visible? We had only seen such things in pictures from books and the internet, but this was different. It was real, and it was right in front of us. Finally, it was my turn. I stepped up to the telescope, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. A teacher gently adjusted the telescope for me, and I bent down to look through the lens. At first, all I could see was a blur, but then, as my eyes adjusted, the moon came into focus.

What I saw took my breath away. The moon wasn’t just a flat, glowing circle like I had always thought. Through the telescope, it was full of craters, shadows, and textures that seemed so close I felt like I could reach out and touch them. It was mesmerizing. For a moment, everything else faded away. The noise of the camping activities, the chatter of students, and even my friends standing nearby—none of it mattered. I was completely lost in the beauty of the moon.

As I stepped aside to let the next person take a look, I couldn’t stop smiling. I glanced at my friends, and they were just as amazed. One of them even gasped loudly when it was her turn, causing everyone to laugh. After everyone had a chance to look at the moon, the teachers adjusted the telescope to point toward Saturn. The sight of Saturn was just as breathtaking as the moon even if it was further away compared to the moon. Its rings were faint but distinct, a sight I never imagined I would see with my own eyes. It was just unfortunate that we couldn't get a picture of it.

That night, my friends and I walked home feeling a little different. Something about seeing the moon and Saturn up close had left us in awe. It reminded us of how vast and beautiful the universe is, and it made us realize how small we are in comparison. Before, I only saw the moon and Saturn in encyclopedias, on the internet, and on science books during our science class but know, I finally saw it in person and until now, I still can't move because of how beautiful they were.

What started as an ordinary evening after class turned into a night to remember. The boy scout camping, the telescope, and the kindness of our teachers gave us an experience we would never forget. One of the teachers even told us that when he first saw the moon, he couldn't stop looking at the telescope because of how beautiful it was.

He did not mind if his eyes hurt because all he wanted was to stare at the moon and memorize its beauty. Stargazing actually taught us to appreciate the wonders of the universe and to never stop being curious. Sometimes, all it takes is a little curiosity and the willingness to explore to discover something truly magical.

That would be all for this blog. I hope you all had fun reading it and learned a lot. I'll see you all on the next one!