science and the divine

[mckitterick]

Here's a beautiful photo of the eclipse that was visible yesterday mostly in the Middle East. This reminds me of the last one I saw, here in Lawrence, about 12 years ago. I helped the Astronomy department help the public watch the eclipse through filtered telescopes and various hand-held filters.

But one of the most magical things for me was the tiny crescent-shaped light shadows. A tree's leaves create thousands of interference lenses, so the light coming through the tree makes little crescent lights like the one in this photo rather than a smooth lighting or a set of pinpoints as usual. Same's true for shadows.

The magic held by celestial objects, revealed through various means of astronomical observation... this is what has always drawn me to astronomy and much of science. When I was an adolescent, I first experienced the divine at the altar of my telescope, late at night in the quiet dark.

So many people misunderstand science. Done properly, it brings one closer to the divine.

Comments

[everflame.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. And that picture proves it.

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

I remember that one 12 yrs ago so well. It was the first time I'd seen all those little "moons" all over the sidewalk.
Funny, the sun casts a moon light!

I liked this story also:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/world_eclipse;_ylt=Ary4grhCjwmpLoSQY4tRnouaK8MA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5bGVna3NhBHNlYwNzc3JlbA--

Gotta love the tavern that gave away free beer, eh?

[curieuse.livejournal.com]

Done properly, it brings one closer to the divine.

Well said.

Be safe out there.

[stuology.livejournal.com]

last one I saw, here in Lawrence, about 12 years ago. I

I had an astronomy final on the day of that eclipse.

[acommonreader.livejournal.com]

Of your words: How very pretty; thank you for writing this.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I couldn't see it in Riga; too far away.

B

[solan-t.livejournal.com]

The cresent-shaped light dapples under the trees is what I remember best about the only eclipse I remember (I was in college and had to be in class for the the height of the eclipse, but the walk to class was quite memorable.)