It's a noticeably Clear Moonless night tonight. I should rather say its a tad more than just clear, it's a Star gazers paradise-" the sky". It beholds forth across the horizon a carpet of boundless treasure- of stars, planets, an occasional sputnik, a falling meteor maybe, an owl gliding on wings that seems abnormally big when utmost spread, the red beacon of an airbus flying north-west..best guess its off to Bagdogra. With the moon nowhere in sight, the light emitting off those tiny looking celestial bodies are brighter and sharper than ever before. And the cloudless sky is just another complimentary addition to this glorious palate. Ain't that a bounty? But in the contrary to this splendor, seeking this treasure is as lucid as child's play, provided you aren't allergic to moss-wet grass, are carefree about few occasional insect bites of diverse upbringings- mosquitos, ants being the predominant ones; don't break into an asthmatic hiccup on sensing a sleaky, cold, black, long serpentine creature passing by your feet(**p.s:if its pitch black and moving too fast, nothing to worry coz it ain't poisonous and is an abundantly available variety called Eastern Indigo Snake in these terrains of Dooars. u can very well start practicing catching them with this one. just beware coz it bites like a dog.**). Guys living in apartment can always cut the crap and avail the luxury of an open concrete terrace. But the real raw deal is to lie down flat on your back in a big open field that touches the horizon. (P.S- don't try star gazing in any erect posture-sitting or standing coz that would invariably make you spondalitic in a couple of sessions). Given a chance I would like to volunteer in providing another 30 to 40 Constellations yet unmentioned in science or astronomy. They will all be my self imaginated(i doubt if that's a word at all), self proclaimed list of constellations. I've planned to name one of them-"The Sickel" coz it looks like one. Now u might've started getting the idea that I'm brooding too many of my own chickens, but believe me I'm not. Even you can discover infinite number of constellations on ur own, and you don't have to be an expert in permutations and combinations to do that. All that's essential is a tad of imagination and an urge of getting into that child's play that u enjoyed in those most former years of life. Peace..ss
