the volunteer astronomer told the crowd
because a star scintillates in a fixed position in the sky
 
while a satellite floats effortlessly
along a single, uninterrupted trail
 
& the orbiter’s light doesn’t pulse
because it isn’t alive;
 
its man-made construction 
reflects sunlight,
 
gifting us an artificial reproduction
of solar radiation 
 
             yet,
         we are dazzled 
                and still gaze with wonder