start where you are
Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Do what you can.
— Arthur Ashe (1943 – 1993)
These words from tennis great Arthur Ashe have become a true mantra for me, and not just because he and I have the same hometown.
There are objects in the night sky that I long to see with my own eyes, or at least to build a decent image via astrophotography. Rho Ophiuchi comes immediately to mind. I’ve aspired to this target for years.
But I don’t have the equipment needed to view or image the brilliant Rho Ophiuchi, one of the closest star-forming regions to our own Solar System. I might make an attempt under darker skies — something that requires planning, travel, and often more spoons than I have readily available.
I’m not sure what about this cloud complex so captivates my imagination. Maybe it’s the varied and vibrant colors in processed photos. Or its proximity to my favorite star, Antares, and to the mesmerizing constellation Scorpius that drifts so low across my southern horizon in the summer. Or it could simply be that Rho Ophiuchi is a difficult target, and that’s what makes me want to go after it.
I’ve tried to capture Rho Ophiuchi before. I’ve used the wrong filter. I’ve gone for single frames when I should have been using the smart telescope’s mosaic mode. I’ve done THIS instead of THAT, and have felt like a foolish novice every time.
But sometimes, focusing on something so big and aspirational causes me to lose sight of what’s right in front of me. I have easier access to marvels like the Eagle Nebula (Messier 16, including the famous Pillars of Creation), the Hercules Globular Cluster (Messier 13), and even our own natural satellite, the Moon.
I can get stymied like this in everyday life, too. The microwave breaks; a heatwave hits, and we have no air conditioning; the dog gets sick at 2 in the morning — all while I’m fielding deadlines and trying to think straight through pain. Pretty soon the daily deficits couple with small irritations and big pressures, and everything builds until I’m on the threshold of a meltdown.
I get stuck in feeling trapped and powerless.
When I’m overwhelmed by what I can’t do, I try to remember Ashe’s words. I remind myself of what I can do in that moment, and I start to build a ladder out of the anxious, frustrated hole I’ve stumbled into. Sometimes I manage only a single rung — taking the dog for a short walk, for instance, or putting away the laundry — but it’s positive action all the same.
I might not ever be able to see or capture the dynamic and spectacular Rho Ophiuchi region myself — and processing such an image is an entirely different beast that sends me into anxiety spirals. But I can still enjoy the work of others, like the image of this same star system and cloud complex printed on the mouse pad on my desk.
The truth is that I’m limited — physically, by circumstances, and by time. I try to temper my expectations, though I make the stubborn, leaping attempts anyway. But it all has to start somewhere, here and now with my abilities and resources, and my intrepid curiosity. I start where I am and use the tools and skills at my disposal. I take small steps, and I do what I can.
I look up again, and the night sky isn’t so daunting.
All content is free for everyone. Subscribe for free on Patreon! You can also support my work with a paid member tier, or buy me a tea. Thanks!
IMAGES
1. Rho Ophiuchi (NIRCam Image)
Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/MIT/C. Canizares; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/K. Pontoppidan; Image Processing: NASA/ESA/STScI/Alyssa Pagan, NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare and J. Major
2. Messier 16, the Eagle Nebula with the Pillars of Creation at its heart. Imaged from Portland, Oregon, on 8 July 2025 by Jennifer Willis