This is an early birthday present I commissioned for myself from the learned and generous craftsman and all around gentle man James Edgar, who’s also btw I think still Editor of the Journal of the Canadian Royal Astronomical Society. This piece, at around 18cm on a side, depicts the northern circumpolar constalations, as indicated by grooves carved into the wood, and the stars within them that will, in a 26,000 year cycle, all take a turn as our North Star, resulting from the wobbling of the Earth’s axis. My mind was blown when I learned about this cycle, and I longed to feel the whole thing under my hands, and Mr. Edgar made it happen. We’re privileged to own several such carvings but this is already my favourite. It arrived a few days ago and James was kind enough to get on a video call with me and help me learn each constalation. I can name and trace them all, and I am immensely enriched!