For one resident of Union, however, he tends to gaze at the sky, preferably at night or early dawn, to catch a glimpse of something out there beyond our planet.

That something may be as common to us earthlings as the moon and stars or as rare as a once-in-a-lifetime comet event.

With recent attention focused on the lingering Hale-Bopp comet, stargazing is the current thing to do.

But for Mario Tonkli, an amateur astronomer who has been utilizing the lens of a telescope for more than 30 years, the Hale-Bopp phenomenon is one of many events that have thrilled him in his lifetime.

"I've had a love affair with the solar system and the whole aspect of astronomy since I was 10 or 11 in the 1960's The prospect of UFOs were big back then, and I found myself fascinated by them and the whole outer space thing," said Tonkli.

As a child, he took a picture by accident of the moon, and knowing very little about our solar system, spent many days holed up in the county library.

He eventually persuaded his parents to purchase a telescope for him and he saw the surface of the moon in more detail. Tonkli said he trained himself to find and observe other objects, like the moons around Jupiter and was helped later with a more-improved telescope.

"My father used to walk by me and shake his head, wondering when I was going to quit looking at the stars every night and apply myself in other things. I can still hear him grumbling," smiled Tonkli.

Over the years, Tonkli has tried different telescopes and has purchased a variety of different lenses, enabling him to receive a greater field of view when observing.

"Of the amount of money I've invested in my hobby, the lenses would practically be where most of my investments have been made. They are the center force of the telescope by collecting light. The greater the collection of light, the brighter the image as far as the resolution is concerned," said Tonkli.

He owns roughly five eyepieces, each used for a specific view. With these, said Tonkli, he is able to view various shadows that occur on the moon from the sun and see the craters up close made from centuries and beyond of passing solar debris.

In addition to the moon, he has seen all the planets -- even Pluto, which appears as a faint star -- said Tonkli. He's viewed the dark greenish polar caps of Mars against an orange and pinkish background. Tonkli said the colors of Jupiter change frequently, from shades of blue to purple.

As has been the case for more than 30 years; Tonkli recently has been up before the sun rises each morning to witness the Hale-Bopp comet in its full effect.

"I go into work very early in the morning anyhow, so I'm up to see Hale-Bopp without much effort. Mostly, the best time to view has been predawn hours. When it was at its most visible, even my wife looked out the window, which for her, it must have stirred a curiosity. She's not as devoted to this stuff as I am," Tonkli joked.

Whether his wife lacks his over - abundant attitude toward the universe, Tonkli said his 9-year-old son, Neal, has begun an interest with astronomy at an even earlier age than he.

"I didn't push my son into this area in the least. I'm amazed at how much he has learned and how he applies himself toward the subject of astronomy. He draws diagrams and pictures of the moon and stars like I did, but much earlier than I," said Tonkli.

Indeed, since the 1960s, Tonkli has kept written journals, hand drawn sketches, and basically a time capsule of each universal discovery from that era onward.

Some of his more recent observances have been transferred onto videotape for viewing pleasure. Often times, Tonkli said instead of television or a movie, he'll pop in one of his home tapes and watch the prerecorded images of the planets and stars.

His pride and joy is a telescope he's owned for nearly two years which is situated on wheels in the backyard. The scope is quite large, red in color, and reads "Newt," (for Sir Isaac Newton) "First Light," dated 8-10-95. With a 36-inch focal length lens, it is designed to collect large amounts of light with a wide angle view.

He recommends that enthusiasts who want to start gazing themselves, should avoid store bought telescopes for they can be weak in sturdiness.

Tonkli says most of his equipment was special ordered through various catalogs and through special-interest magazines.

Originally from Cleveland, Tonkli said he still has many friends in that city devoted to astronomy who he keeps up with to talks over astronomical events.

Tonkli said just like with any other project or interest, what one gets out of the experience is only what he or she puts into it.

"All you need is the desire. A scientific background isn't necessary, just a love for elements that are beyond our everyday control. They're so independent and far from us, we often forget we're not the only planet or object within this universe," said Tonkli.

He added that the changing seasons, humidity and the atmosphere all play a role in how well he's able to observe on a regular basis.