ASTOUNDING!

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is keeping well.

We are currently learning the laws of ASTRONOMY relating to the moon, and the calculations regarding Rosh Chodesh (New Moon), in Rambam's Mishnah Torah (1 chapter per day)

It is astounding to see the Rambam's brilliant knowledge of astronomy being hinted at, and how he has simplified it, so that everyone will be able to understand it, and apply it practically!

But there was another ASTOUNDING commentary which I came across regarding this subject (A Glimpse of Light - Dr J Schamroth)

In one of the laws it speaks about 'sighting the New Moon after two stars had appeared.'

And of course there would be lots of discussion about which size stars are being spoken about etc

But what amazed me, and this is what I would like to share, was the commentary about how many stars there are in the sky.

I am sure we all know the difference between a planet like earth, and the sun, and how powerful is the sun.

Stars are equivalent to the sun.

Would anyone like to take a guess on how many stars one can see in the sky with one's naked eye?

2500 in each hemisphere, i.e. 5000 in total.

And how many have been found to date with all our powerful techniques of observation?

In our galaxy alone there are an are estimated 100,000 million!

And our galaxy is but one of many millions of galaxies. Which brings the estimated total of stars in the universe to an estimated, thousand billion trillion stars (10 to the power 24)!!

And our Sages, 2000 years ago, in Talmud Brachot, estimated the number of stars to 10 to the power 18, and by including the other non- Zodiac constellations, this correlates quite closely with the modern day figure!!!

There are two ASTOUNDING points over here.

1. We know the power of one sun. Can we even begin to imagine the power of a thousand billion trillion stars? And can we even imagine such a number? And can we imagine how vast a space this is? And how powerful is its Creator?!!!
2. How did our Sages estimate such a figure when the maximum number that would be visible at any one time, would be 2500?! How could they even have the daring to say such a thing?!

Wishing everyone a very good Shabbos and a gut Chodesh!