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The Factor That Keeps Us Looking Up

The N44 superbubble complex as seen by the Gemini Telescope (courtesy Gemini Observatory and T.A. Rector).
Use slider to zoom in on the image.  (Courtesy John Williams at Terrazoom.)

Astronomy and space science have this serious “Wow!” factor that really engage people’s attention. If nothing else, the “pretty pictures” grab your attention and keep it riveted for quite some time. Take this image of a star-forming nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud (a neighboring galaxy to the Milky Way Galaxy). It was taken using the Gemini Observatory and the image just draws your eye. Before you know it, you’re taking in the shape of the cloud and the stars in the field.

The evidence before your eyes speaks to the incredible processes that take place in the universe.  Of course, the first time you look at an image like this, you probably aren’t sure what you’re seeing beyond some fluffy stuff and a bunch of gorgeous stars. Don’t feel bad about not knowing what you’re seeing. Astronomers have that experience, too.  But, once they get over their awe at what they see, they get right down to work, using all the tools and knowledge they have at their disposal to figure out the what, when, where, why, and how of the processes that form what they see.

If you know an astronomer or an astronomy buff, this may give you some insight into what makes them tick — what makes them keep looking up, night after night. It’s the beauty, the awe-inspiring views, the “Wow!” factor that keeps them (and all of us who love the night skies) coming back for more!

astronomy, Carl Sagan, cosmos, stephen hawking

The Continuation of Inspiration

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A Tribute to Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking

When Carl Sagan’s Cosmos first hit public TV beginning in 1980, I was immediately touched and entranced by Carl’s personal vision of the cosmos. He put his finger on a lot of things that I’d thought and wondered about when it came to astronomy and space science. It was like he (and the other creators of the series — Ann Druyan and Steven Soter among them) had a pipeline into my brain.  It’s probably an understatement to say that the series inspired me. It wasn’t long before I went back to school to study astronomy.  I’ve heard others — astronomers, science writers, various scientists, teachers — say that they, too, were inspired by the Cosmos series.

Today, nearly 30 years after the first broadcast of the series, and close to 13 years after Carl’s death, the series still inspires. And, through tributes such as the one below, created  by John Boswell, it’s finding new ways to open people’s minds to the wonder and beauty of the cosmos.

This piece of video is also a salute to another visionary mind — Dr. Stephen Hawking.  I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Hawking some years ago and was immediately also touched by his work, his perseverence, and his unique insights into physics and astronomy. Both men have shared their personal insights with the world and inspired millions of people with their work. I’m glad to see that new generations are finding them relevant and inspiring.  Enjoy!