Stargazing in Caffrey Conversation

We've sprinkled references to astronomy beginning with The Woman in Blue. My initial inspiration was the canon episode "Where There's a Will." In that story, some of the scenes were shot at the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History. The plot, which revolves around hidden coded messages, a sundial, and a sextant, not only gave me the idea to develop Peter's interest in astronomy for our series but it also sparked the creation of Azathoth. At one point, Neal refers to Peter's "astronomical puzzling expertise." From that one phrase popped out an entire hutch of plot bunnies.

From canon, we know Peter grew up in Albany. I imagined he stargazed as a kid with his mom and joined the local astronomy club. He also built several telescopes, including one he now keeps at the cabin. Stargazing at the cabin was included in The Woman in Blue and a Caffrey Vignette: Spring Break. I also used astronomy to give Peter a connection to Neal's university. Beginning in The Mirror, he helps teach a telescope workshop for kids at Columbia.

There's something very peaceful and calming about gazing up at the stars. Peter is well aware of its effect. In the aftermath of their kidnapping ordeal in The Woman in Blue, he's convinced Neal is hiding something. Peter invites him to stargaze at their cabin over Halloween, hoping he can draw him out. They joke about the constellations. Peter casts Neal as Perseus, a fitting constellation for a fencer. Perseus is depicted holding a sword and carrying the head of Medusa. Peter compares that monster to the tentacle-faced assailant Neal fought off. El is Ursa Major, the mama bear. Adjacent to her in the sky is another constellation that by all rights also belongs to Neal—Ursa Minor, or Baby Bear. Peter has staked his claim to the baseball bat-shaped constellation of Boötes, the herdsman. Boötes forms a group with the two bear constellations, and like his namesake, Peter stands at the ready to protect his two bears.

Stargazing also plays an important role in Arkham Files. Peter encouraged Diana to include it because of Azathoth's interest in astronomy. H.P. Lovecraft was an astronomy enthusiast. That may help explain the cybercriminal's fascination with the author.

In Arkham Files, Peter is familiar with the night sky, but Mozzie is the expert. Diana had Mozzie give Neal the nickname of Perseus. For a little boy who didn't know who his parents were, Mozzie hoped the legendary warrior—the son of a mortal woman and the god Zeus—would be a source of comfort.

Stargazing also has a special significance for me. I studied astronomy in college. Our class used to go up to the rooftop of the science building to observe the night sky. When I lived in Manhattan, I'd go to the roof of our Manhattan apartment building to stargaze. Yes, for the doubters out there, you can see the stars in New York City—not well, but they're there. I also belonged to an astronomy club and attended astronomy workshops at the American Museum of Natural History. I'm not as clever as Peter though and had to buy my telescope.

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