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	FirstLight's First Ten Years
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by Robert Jacobs

At our latest star party several of our observers saw what they called double stars through their eyepieces. Does this mean that what they described was two stars from a single system that were in somewhat close proximity? Not exactly.

Did this mean that the stars were part of a single galaxy? Not exactly. Were they even assumed to be the same distance from our own solar system? Not exactly. What, then, were the observers describing?

When we look at deep sky objects and make reference to them, we include our experience. Communicating to others what we see, like brightness, position and color, we use that experience and we must allow for this when relating some thoughts to beginning star gazers. My experience, in this respect, has been mostly on the receiving end of the talk.

Our reference terms should indicate, where necessary, that apparent size and position are our meaning so that the inexperienced audience will not be "tuned out." In this way, we can be sure of holding our listeners and then aid them in building their vocabulary in astronomical terms. Let's face it, even "sky" has meaning—but only on the earth's surface.

Proper description relates the idea to the term used and aids understanding. Put that in action when your time comes to speak to others of the stars and planets.

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