So, this astronomy thing...
When I first started at Carter Observatory there were 7 full time staff, about the same as now. Some knew about astronomy, some knew about Te Ao Maori, some were Kiwis but several weren't. It was a great time of team building and one thing we instigated was to share one space fact every day and I'd share one kupu / word each day so we shared our knowledge - at least as it related to the new Carter Observatory.
One of the early facts I learned that continues to blows my mind was that there are more stars in our universe than all the grains of sand on all the beaches and deserts of planet Earth! Or put another way, more than all the heartbeats of every human being that's ever lived!
Now I don't know about you but that blows my very tiny mind and every day reminds me:
1. We're on this tiny spaceship called Earth - we'd do well to look after her and nurture her and work together to continue to live here - it's all we've got!
2. My problems I woke with this morning are tiny - in the scheme of things anyway - so perhaps a new perspective base on this information is worth considering. It re frames my thinking and gives me a daily does of reality.
3. And reminds me of a quote by Carl Sagan, the late American Scientist, who said, “The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of star stuff.”
―Carl Sagan, Cosmos
I love this quote - it speaks of limitless potential and our ability to create our own reality.
So my workplace inspires me daily and reminds me of the vastness of our universe and the absolute wonder of the skies above. My jaw drops now when I view a full Moon, or see the rings of Saturn, or can make out the constellation Scorpius in the winter sky.
My astronomy colleagues who know so much, make my journey through this aspect of tourism an absolute joy and a wonder to behold. It is a marvelous thing to apply my knowledge and experience from a 25 year journey through the tourism sector to a new visitor experience with space as the primary subject matter. To learn as I work is truly awesome.
It just goes to show that inspiration is right on our doorstep if we take the time to breathe.
“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos
