For Sarah Smith, a new mother and writer, adventure seemed like a distant memory. That was until one evening, at her toddler’s prompting, she looked up and discovered an unexpected cosmic spectacle.
“Are those… aliens?” I whisper, as my daughter gazes in awe at a procession of lights drifting across the night sky. Just moments before, we were entangled in our bedtime routine, when she suggested saying “goodnight to the moon.”
A quick search reveals that these enigmatic lights aren’t extraterrestrial; they’re the handiwork of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites passing over our small coastal town in Victoria.
As my partner then asks, “Is that… an aurora?” it seems even more outlandish than our fleeting extraterrestrial fantasy. Yet, as we shift our gaze, the sky reveals an unexpected display of pink and green—the Aurora Australis. The realization hits us like a revelation: “Oh my god! Oh my god!” we exclaim into the still night.
We stand in awe, transfixed by the cosmic dance of colors above the treetops, as if we’ve stepped into a magical realm where the Tardis might materialize in our backyard. Instead of our usual routine of lounging on the couch with wine and screens, my partner and I bundle up and marvel at the night sky. The aurora flares up again, vivid and mesmerizing, and I reach out, almost instinctively, trying to grasp the vibrant hues.
I’m struck by how easily we might have missed this wonder. In the midst of the toddler bedtime routine and our weekend fatigue, it was our daughter’s curiosity that led us outside to witness this celestial phenomenon.
As avid nature enthusiasts who have traveled the globe, my partner and I have seen our share of wonders. Yet, the early days of parenthood often shrink your world, making adventures feel out of reach amid the haze of sleep deprivation and the lure of digital distractions.
But then, life realigns. A few years in, a toddler’s spontaneous request brings you outside on a cold night, revealing a backyard display that rivals the most breathtaking travel experiences. In that moment, amidst the world’s chaos, you reconnect with the profound beauty of our planet.
You don’t need a geomagnetic storm or distant lands to find this kind of wonder. Sometimes, all it takes is being present, taking a moment to slow down, and looking up. A clear night can hold extraordinary beauty, and who knows—you might even spot an alien or two.
