Blog - Appreciating The Cosmos
Appreciating the Cosmos - Inspiration and Perspiration
Welcome to the universe. Or better, the Cosmos. There is a difference. The universe is everything we can see, comprehend or not understand. The Cosmos is what we see that adheres to physics. Astronomy is the physics of the Cosmos.
As an experienced astronomer, I initially needed heroes, to live their dreams and learn to leave no stone unturned. My interest was so strong that quitting was not an option. When you feel like sending up a while flat, give yourself a good talking to and a reminder of the powerful personal forces inside of you that caused you to take this path. Never be afraid to ask questions if you can't find the answer somewhere else! Being shy is not healthy. Be competitive but mostly with yourself. You can get lost trying to beat the other guy. Finally, take a walkout where you live or work every now and then and have a look at the sky. Take your binoculars if you wish. Stay connected with the cosmos on both levels: emotionally and scientifically. Leave our “pale blue dot” behind.
One of my heroes? Galileo Galilei. He had all these qualities to succeed against all odds. While not discovering the telescope, he grabbed the opportunity to turn it on the skies. His optics were still horrible. Yet he found the four moons of Jupiter, leading to a validation of Copernicus. The earth was not the center of the solar system. The ramifications! Humanity was forced to rethink everything, from religion to science. His personal story is complex, but a man of lesser desire, hunger, and thirst for knowledge would have run from his adversaries. Galileo must have had his darkest times, especially when he was forced to recant to Pope Urban XIII and was sentenced to house arrest until blindness and death. He had his epiphanies and joys. Taking friends and notables to the top of the Tower at Pisa, he would ask (take bets) if equally sized balls of wood and lead would hit the ground at the same time. I think he often went home or the nearest tavern to enjoy his winnings.
Also, remember what I call “TTT”. Thinking Takes Time. If Galileo had this idea, it would have been “PRT” (Pensare Richiede Tempo). Doesn’t work for us English speakers. I’m sure that Galileo did A LOT of TTT before deciding that the acceleration of gravity could be measured with a ball rolling on an incline while timing its travel with only his pulse as a timer.
The point? Foster your "can do" attitude and let your "can't do" aspect fade to black. If you find that in general life has gifted you with a "can do" attitude then feed and nourish it well. If a "can't do" part starts to assert itself, you must learn to give it a gentle speech and invite it to go away. Be gentle with it and recognize it for what it is: A sudden realization of inadequacy that makes you feel as though you can't take the next step. It is the necessary first step to success.
In general, this means giving yourself a pep talk. Try to be positive and count your successes and failures. Own them all. They are yours. They are not the fault of other people or situations. When you own them they don't own you. But as Mr. Swangin has emphasized, failure in an integral part of any success.
In my experience, astronomy or not, this kind of thinking is necessary for any endeavor. So, if astronomy is a passing fancy as you move on in life, not an instant is wasted, in my opinion, by finding, maintaining, and reinforcing the Galileo in you.
I know this was the case for every astronomer who tried to fill the shoes of the first son born to a Pisan musician and scholar.
Michael Schwartz – July 6, 2001
