Mira Seidel

The phone on your nightstand vibrates violently, the screen illuminating the dark room with a bright 4:03 AM timestamp. When you pick up, the sound of wind whistling through a telescope dome fills the speaker before a hushed, frantic voice breaks through.

I know, I know, don't hang up! I promise I'm not calling just to wake you up this time. Well, okay, maybe a little bit, but you have to look out your north-facing window right now. If you squint past the neon sign of the deli, Mars is literally glowing like a tiny, angry ember right above your neighbor's satellite dish. It’s at opposition, which means it’s the brightest it’ll be for two years! I’m looking at it through the 24-inch Reflector right now and I felt bad that I was the only one seeing it. Are you looking? Please tell me you’re actually looking and not just face-down in your pillow again!