(CNN) One of my family's favorite activities is sitting around the firepit under a clear night sky, equipped with blankets and all the fixings for s'mores, of course.
The pandemic patio purchase has served us well on Saturday nights throughout the seasons as we look to the stars as our entertainment. We point out the constellations and planets that punch through the dark with illumination that evokes a wonder and hope that I find myself clinging to more these days.
To this day, I cannot look to the night's sky without feeling compelled to focus my sights on the brightest star and recite a poem I learned as a child:
"Star light, star bright First star I see tonight I wish I may, I wish I might Have this wish I wish tonight."
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Of all the stories and rhymes shoved into my head over the span of a lifetime, this little poem about wishing on a star that my mom taught me has adhered like superglue into my brain.
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I was taught to recite this little ditty, a 19th century children's poem, before placing my best wish on the first star I spotted in the twinkling night sky. Those moments were always filled with hope and wonder, like I was looking into my soul and my future all at once. (My wishes, of course, were secrets so I can't tell you what they were.) The rhyme still runs over in my head as I peer out at the equally impressive starlight sky as an adult and I utter aloud to my toddler, prepping another generation to carry on the tradition. I'll admit it -- I still wish on stars regularly. Where did wishing on a star come from? Wishing on stars started thousands of years ago There is evidence of cultures looking to the stars for answers dating back millennia, according to Nicholas Campion, a professor in cosmology and culture at the University of Wales. The ancient Egyptians believed that your soul ascended to the stars when you died, and that when your soul reached the stars, you gained absolute wisdom, according to Campion. "There is clearly this tendency for people to look at a bright star and find some kind of meaning in it," Campion said. Greek astronomer and geographer Ptolemy worked in the great library at Alexandria, Egypt. He thought the stars were connected to the gods. {"@context": "http://schema.org","@type": "ImageObject","name": "Greek astronomer and geographer Ptolemy worked in the great library at Alexandria, Egypt. He thought the stars were connected to the gods.","description": "Greek astronomer and geographer Ptolemy worked in the great library at Alexandria, Egypt. He thought the stars were connected to the gods.","url": "//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/210504182901-ptolemy-astronomer-large-169.jpg"} Fast-forward to the second century, when the astronomer Ptolemy believed that stars were gods or, at least, signs from the gods. He thought that stars were signs that the gods had slipped through gaps in the sky, or, as he called them, "heavenly spheres," and had a direct line of vision to the humans below. What better time to ask them for whatever your heart desired? "The Greeks, and Babylonians before them, saw the upper sky as the home of the gods when meteors fell to Earth," said Bonnie MacLachlan, professor emeritus and adjunct research professor of classical studies of Western University in Ontario, Canada. "Instead of reasoning that there might be rocks up there, they felt that divinity must reside in the fallen meteorite and worshipped it." The Greeks and Romans also believed in "cosmic sympathy," the concept that our souls were formed according to the "order of the cosmos, including stars and planets, and they are felt to influence how we behave," MacLachlan said. It was believed that we are intrinsically connected to the cosmos, so perhaps it was a natural assumption that the stars could listen to our wishes and deliver those things we most desire. The Christians followed The psychological benefits of prayer: What science says about the mind-soul connection Once science had dispelled some of the myths of the Greeks, other traditions stepped in to fill the void. In the Christian tradition, the star of Bethlehem guided the three wise men to baby Jesus as depicted in the Nativity scene. As early as the first century AD, shooting stars were said to be fallen angels. Coincidentally, that period in history may have also seen increased meteoric activity, according to scholar William H. Black, who wrote about the convergence of cosmic activity and early Christianity's focus on stars as religious symbols for the International Meteor Organization's bimonthly journal. "Clear references to falling stars only commence with the apocalyptic biblical and extra-biblical material which flourished especially between the circa 2nd century BC and the circa 1st century AD," he wrote. Jiminy Cricket inspired Pinocchio and countless children over the decades when he sang "When You Wish Upon a Star" in the 1940 Disney film. {"@context": "http://schema.org","@type": "ImageObject","name": "Jiminy Cricket inspired Pinocchio and countless children over the decades when he sang "When You Wish Upon a Star" in the 1940 Disney film.","description": "Jiminy Cricket inspired Pinocchio and countless children over the decades when he sang "When You Wish Upon a Star" in the 1940 Disney film.","url": "//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/210504184853-jiminy-cricket-file-restricted-large-169.jpg"} Arguably the most influential institution following religion is Disney, the megabrand that has made kids' wishes for a magical world come true for decades. Disney's beloved insect, Jiminy Cricket, sang the memorable "When You Wish Upon a Star" in the original 1940 movie version of "Pinocchio." The familiar voice of Cliff Edwards, who recorded the original version of the song, has been covered by dozens of others over the years. Its wistful appeal remains intact. "Makes no difference who you are," the song goes, insinuating that the stars are the great equalizers. We all stand under the same cosmos, no matter who we are or where we are or what our present circumstances might be. We all get a wish. We might look to the stars and wonder whether we'll ever make it big. Or whether we'll make it to the next sunset. We put our faith in the same celestial wonder that our ancestors did nearly 2,000 years ago. Why do we still wish on stars? The Milky Way is seen from the Glacier Point Trailside in Yosemite National Park, California, in July 2020. {"@context": "http://schema.org","@type": "ImageObject","name": "The Milky Way is seen from the Glacier Point Trailside in Yosemite National Park, California, in July 2020. ","description": "The Milky Way is seen from the Glacier Point Trailside in Yosemite National Park, California, in July 2020. ","url": "//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/210106113808-01-milky-way-file-large-169.jpg"} The science has certainly evolved since the second century AD -- and with it our understanding of many aspects of our world. We still don't know exactly how wishes work, though, whether we can will the things we most want into existence, whether our lives are predetermined, or whether we are authors of our own fates. Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona): The world-famous Grand Canyon National Park became an International Dark Sky Park in June 2019. Visitors and rangers celebrated with a "Sky Party" at Grand View Point, Island in the Sky. Hide Caption 1 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Brecon Beacons National Park (UK): Stargazers in the UK can enjoy the silhouette of the Llanthony Priory against the starry sky. The ruins have partly been converted into a pub . After a night of hard sky observation, you can step into the former Augustinian priory for an authentic Welsh ale. Hide Caption 2 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Natural Bridges National Monument (Utah): The natural Owachomo Bridge in Utah is silhouetted against the Milky Way and thousands of stars. This photo was taken on a particularly clear night after a storm, and features potholes full of water reflecting the scene, says photographer Jacob Frank . Hide Caption 3 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Westhavelland Dark Sky Reserve (Germany): Westhavelland International Dark Sky Reserve is less than a two-hour drive from Berlin. The summer night sky can be so dark and clear that zodiacal light (sunlight scattered by dust in space) and gegenschein (a faint brightening of zodiacal light at midnight) can be visible. Hide Caption 4 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Mont-Mégantic Dark Sky Reserve (Canada): The annual Perseids Event at Mont-Mégantic is dedicated to the meteor shower that can be seen every August. Around 50-100 "fireballs" can be seen per hour across the sky in Quebec, Canada. Hide Caption 5 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve (New Zealand): Looking south from Lake Tekapo, on the South Island in New Zealand, you can see the Milky Way stretching over the Church of the Good Shepherd. The Southern Cross and the Coal Sack Nebula are visible near the top of the image. Hide Caption 6 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Exmoor National Park (UK): A long exposure or multiple stacked images can capture the motions of stars as the Earth rotates. As you focus toward the north or south poles, stars create a circular trail. On the clearest nights, 3,000 stars are visible over this park in Devon and Somerset, UK. Hide Caption 7 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Pic du Midi Dark Sky Reserve (France): It's impossible to miss the Milky Way stretching across the sky from this French reserve. "Starry Night" programs are available on special astronomical occasions in the reserve, where an astronomer acts as your guide to the cosmos. You can use viewing equipment on the terraces. Hide Caption 8 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies NamibRand Nature Reserve (Namibia): The light extending upwards from the horizon is zodiacal light, says Dr. George Tucker, a former professor of physics and astronomy. The Beehive Cluster is in the center of the light by the Namibian horizon with the constellation of Cancer around it and the stars of Leo above. Hide Caption 9 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Kerry Dark Sky Reserve (Ireland): Orion is one of several constellations that can be seen at this dark sky reserve in Ireland. In this photo, and with the naked eye when there, you can see the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy and the Orion Nebula. Hide Caption 10 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Northumberland Dark Sky Park (UK): Depending on disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field , the Aurora Borealis can be visible from Kielder Observatory, on the northernmost edge of England, close to the Scottish border. Hide Caption 11 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Goldendale Observatory State Park (Washington): Looking toward Oregon's Mount Hood during autumn, you can see Saturn (smaller than the dot of this "i" at the top left) and Venus (right of the moon) with the naked eye. If you want a better view of the tiny speck that is Saturn, you can use the park's telescope, one of the largest available for public use in the United States. The observatory is currently at a temporary location, but its soft opening is set for October 2019. Hide Caption 12 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Death Valley National Park (California): The Sombrero Galaxy can be seen with an amateur telescope from Death Valley National Park in California. This image is a mosaic of six photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Many astronomers speculate that a black hole a billion times the mass of our sun is at the "Mexican hat's" center. Hide Caption 13 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Chaco Culture National Historical Park (New Mexico): You can observe sky phenomena among ancient Pueblo ruins as Chacoan people did almost 1,000 years ago. In addition to regular events, including archaeo-astronomy and Pueblo Bonito full moon walks, special events are held for phenomena such as eclipses and meteor showers. Hide Caption 14 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Hortobágy National Park (Hungary): Pristine night skies were a perk and a necessity for Hortobágy's traditional shepherds in Hungary. Early 20th-century shepherds relied heavily on knowledge of stars and constellations for livelihood and cultural reasons. Hide Caption 15 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Galloway Forest Park (UK): Star formations or "stellar nurseries" can be seen without the use of equipment in this park in Scotland, but details of the nebulae are better observed through one of the two telescopes at the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory. Hide Caption 16 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Big Bend National Park (Texas) – Big Bend National Park (Texas): In this picture the swirl of the Milky Way can clearly be seen from Panther Junction, the center of Big Bend National Park in Texas. Among the stars, you can also see the constellations Gemini, Taurus and Orion. It's the only dark sky park in the Northern Hemisphere where you can see parts of the Southern Cross. Hide Caption 17 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Cherry Springs State Park (Pennsylvania): Visibility at Cherry Springs can be so good that the Milky Way is sometimes bright enough to cast shadows on the ground. Hide Caption 18 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Geauga Observatory Park (Ohio) : Using this park's telescope, you can see deep sky objects such as the Dumbbell Nebula . The nebula is the remains of exploded stars and stretches 4.5 light years across. Hide Caption 19 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Clayton Lake Dark Sky Park (Ohio): The Northern Cross is part of the constellation of Cygnus. This image was captured in Geauga Observatory Park in Ohio, but the constellation can be clearly seen at Clayton Lake Dark Sky Park in New Mexico during the summer too. Hide Caption 20 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Mayland Earth to Sky Park & Bare Dark Sky Observatory (North Canada): In the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, this new dark sky park is one of few places on the east coast to offer spectacular views of the Milky Way. Hide Caption 21 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Zselic Starry Sky Park (Hungary): The Orion constellation and Orion Nebula can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere during spring. Paul Jeanes captured this image of the Orion Nebula (also known as M42) from his observatory in Washford, UK, but it can also be seen from Hungary's Zselic Starry Sky Park. Hide Caption 22 of 23 Photos: 23 spots for spectacular starry skies Headlands Dark Sky Park (Michigan): The Headlands are one of the best stargazing destinations in the United States. During the larger meteor showers such as the Perseids (which peak mid-August) and the Geminids (which peaks mid-December) you can watch the "falling stars" streak in front of the Milky Way. Hide Caption 23 of 23 /* global CNN */'use strict';jQuery(document).ready(function () {var galleryAdSlide = new CNN.AdSlide('el__gallery', false, CNN.contentModel.singletonFile);}); "Wishing on a star is simulating a desired future," said Bertram Malle, a professor of psychology at Brown University. "If you then wish for something that you can control, you might strengthen your goal and initiate planning and persistence; if you wish for something you cannot control, you might at least have the momentary glow of an imagined world," he said. Since we're taught to keep our wishes secret (otherwise they won't come true), it's hard to know exactly what people wish for when they look to the stars. We do know that family, career and friendship are the areas in which people find the most meaning in life, according to a 2018 Pew study . How to find that star to wish on Exploring the night sky can fill you with a sense of wonder. {"@context": "http://schema.org","@type": "ImageObject","name": "Exploring the night sky can fill you with a sense of wonder.","description": "Exploring the night sky can fill you with a sense of wonder.","url": "//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/201112170219-telescope-stock-large-169.jpg"} "I have never wished on a star myself, but I do think there is something magical about stargazing," said British science writer Abigail Beall, author of "The Art of Urban Astronomy: A Guide to Stargazing Wherever You Are." "Just looking at the vast number of stars in our Milky Way, and knowing there are so many more out there we can't see, gives me a real sense of awe," she said. Whether you are wishing or not, gazing at the stars can be equally stunning. Just one hour of time with your eyes fixed at the night's sky should allow you to spot at least one or two meteors, according to Beall. "Exactly how many you'll see depends on the light pollution in your area, and how much of the sky is visible and not blocked by buildings or trees, for example," she said. Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more . Beall also recommends distinguishing between satellites, which travel slowly across the sky, and meteors, which move much more quickly and disappear at any moment. These days, it's not a big stretch to wonder why people might look up at the brilliant, blinking visual cacophony that is the night sky and wish for the things they most want and need in life. The sky feels vast and aspirational, the stars like an infinite number of possibilities just waiting to be picked like ripe fruit. We wish because we dream, and we dream because we hope. And hope is the thing that keeps us going.