I can relate to that, but I'd skip this first part straight to Galileo, because I feel that's when we gained the conscience of those "dots" as being "worlds". There was already such a word "planet", but it had no resemblance with our current concept of a planet, so to me that's the start: when we realize those are places, which opens up the possibility of exploration.
Oh, and awesome! Congratulations on the invitation. Go get 'em, tiger.
(which is not to say I wouldn't mention us looking up, noticing changes and naming stars and planets since forever, but I wouldn't linger on it much as content)