19
stars; I could even discern the bright clouds of the Milky Way and see the
zodiacal light. The lights of the Observatory would promptly disappear and I
would be left in the utmost solitude, lost in the Cosmos. The silhouette of the
Teide and the Pole Star fixed me beneath the mighty celestial vault. The silence
could be felt, broken only by the rhythmic crunch of the frozen ground
beneath my boots.
I remember one night I began to hear breathing behind my back. My senses
sharpened. I could not see anybody. I stopped and the breathing stopped. I
peered into the darkness and saw that I was alone. I walked on and started to
hear the breathing behind me again. I was becoming more spooked by the
second. I quickened my pace and broke into a run. I was truly alarmed.
Breathless and sweating, I reached the small dome housing the telescope and
came to the realization that it was my own breathing that accompanied and
followed me. It was my physical self that was manifesting itself so that I should
not feel so alone in the immense solitude that enveloped me.
These things were moulding our character, toughening us up, and preparing us for the hard future to come. Untried youngsters that we were, we could
not see any future benefit. In truth, it was difficult to keep focused and contemplate our endless miseries without becoming disheartened. Of course,
Fig. 2.3 Some of the Izaña Observatory staff. (Credit: F. Sánchez)
2 Izaña (1961–1963)
stars; I could even discern the bright clouds of the Milky Way and see the
zodiacal light. The lights of the Observatory would promptly disappear and I
would be left in the utmost solitude, lost in the Cosmos. The silhouette of the
Teide and the Pole Star fixed me beneath the mighty celestial vault. The silence
could be felt, broken only by the rhythmic crunch of the frozen ground
beneath my boots.
I remember one night I began to hear breathing behind my back. My senses
sharpened. I could not see anybody. I stopped and the breathing stopped. I
peered into the darkness and saw that I was alone. I walked on and started to
hear the breathing behind me again. I was becoming more spooked by the
second. I quickened my pace and broke into a run. I was truly alarmed.
Breathless and sweating, I reached the small dome housing the telescope and
came to the realization that it was my own breathing that accompanied and
followed me. It was my physical self that was manifesting itself so that I should
not feel so alone in the immense solitude that enveloped me.
These things were moulding our character, toughening us up, and preparing us for the hard future to come. Untried youngsters that we were, we could
not see any future benefit. In truth, it was difficult to keep focused and contemplate our endless miseries without becoming disheartened. Of course,
Fig. 2.3 Some of the Izaña Observatory staff. (Credit: F. Sánchez)
2 Izaña (1961–1963)