So, I happen to think that #Astronomy is very keen, and I love it and will talk about it rather a lot. There are probably thousands of other people who have posted information and explainers and resources, but just in case some folks haven’t seen those, I’d like to post some #IntroToAstro recommendations and resources.
One of my first recommendations tends to be Stellarium (https://stellarium.org/). It’s free! It’s like having a planetarium on your computer! There’s a simpler web version!
#Monsterdon Fortunately the castle walls are easy to climb, because a castle built for outer space couldn’t possibly be penetrated by a bunch of barbar- oh, they’re in.
#Monsterdon Oh yeah, this film has a heroine, nearly forgot her. She’s predictably frightened. Otherwise these scenes of strolling through various landscapes exchanging quips might lack urgency.
So of course I wanted to be a scientist when I grew up. I found out early that I didn’t have the stomach for biology, but I became fascinated by the stars. I grew up in the age of Carl Sagan and many others, who wanted the knowledge and practice of science to be made accessible to everyone, a democratization of disciplines. Through heavy reading, I also gained respect for many, many other fields of study, and the place of research and academia in the modern world.
How strange this is. I was born in the year that the first humans - who were, not incidentally, citizens of the U.S., landed on the moon. My parents had jobs in academia and research, which had received great boosts during the Space Race. I was brought up in the tradition that science, while a two-edged tool, was a strong route to develop society if used well. One parent’s work was in health science research - a minor role, but part of what I saw as the great human enterprise of progress.
The writing was already on the wall, had I the eyes to see; but I was blinded by idealistic views of my childhood. Meanwhile, Carl Sagan was writing the “Demon-Haunted World” - you know the quotes. My cousin was working on health effects of passive smoking, and ran up against the tobacco corporations & their scientists/deniers-for-hire. The Space Program was cut back and back in order to kill more people in Vietnam & elsewhere… & people were starting to forget vaccine-preventable diseases.
I write, therefore I am. I read, therefore you are. The rest follows. Space, science, animals, social justice, silliness, and random thoughts. (She/her).