random info: i love the title of this edition because it reminds me of a song from my favorite brazilian singer, Rita Lee. she sings "for you i would steal Saturn's ring" as a love song. super cute. the song is called "Desculpe O Auê" :)
I once saw Saturn through an optical telescope, incredibly from the roof of a building in London... and yes, my god, how incredible to know that the photons hitting your eyes have traveled that billion miles from the object you're seeing! An immense feeling.
If you haven't, and can get on iPlayer, check out Brian Cox's Solar System series. I've been lukewarm on his recent programmes, but this is absolutely barnstorming, mainly because there is so much new data - Musk's colonialist BS aside, solar system exploration is one of the greatest and most hopeful frontiers of human knowledge.
I'm glad it wasn't just me (and your description — "the photons hitting your eyes have traveled that billion miles from the object you're seeing" — really does articulate what's so mindblowing about it, I think, that sense of directness, of contact, almost). Thanks for the trip re: Brian Cox's series, I wasn't aware of it!
Been boring everyone in earshot about the planets lining up by the moon. Nothing like a glowing orb in the sky to restore your sense of wonder.
A real rim rocker, excellent
random info: i love the title of this edition because it reminds me of a song from my favorite brazilian singer, Rita Lee. she sings "for you i would steal Saturn's ring" as a love song. super cute. the song is called "Desculpe O Auê" :)
It reminds me of the WG Sebald book (and reminds me that it's high time I re-read it!).
I once saw Saturn through an optical telescope, incredibly from the roof of a building in London... and yes, my god, how incredible to know that the photons hitting your eyes have traveled that billion miles from the object you're seeing! An immense feeling.
If you haven't, and can get on iPlayer, check out Brian Cox's Solar System series. I've been lukewarm on his recent programmes, but this is absolutely barnstorming, mainly because there is so much new data - Musk's colonialist BS aside, solar system exploration is one of the greatest and most hopeful frontiers of human knowledge.
I'm glad it wasn't just me (and your description — "the photons hitting your eyes have traveled that billion miles from the object you're seeing" — really does articulate what's so mindblowing about it, I think, that sense of directness, of contact, almost). Thanks for the trip re: Brian Cox's series, I wasn't aware of it!