Religion, SF, and Other Speculative Fictions.


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Sunday Services at the Church of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Posted by John on May 20th, 2007 at 10:58 pm · 6 Comments

Sacrificed a day of studying and took GameBoy up to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory‘s Annual Open House. It’s a huge event. In fact, it’s a lot like Disneyland–distant parking lots, gaggles of families with young kids, and long lines. Only instead of rides, there’s science. And science beats out everything that Disneyland has to offer, except maybe Pirates of the Carribean and the funny Merlin guy.

GameBoy and I had a great time (Jana and CatGirl opted to go to JourneyGal‘s jewelrymaking party). On the long drive there and back, we listened to William Shunn’s Hugo-nominated short story, Inclination, and talked about game theory. As far as the exhibits are concerned, he liked the detailed 3D images of the Martian landscape, and I preferred peppering the JPL scientists with questions about Europa and Titan. I’m not ashamed to admit that I got teary when I watched the video taken from the Huygens probe of its descent through the thick organic soup of Titan’s atmosphere down to its surface of water slush volcanoes and methane seas. It was a marvelous pilgrimage.

Astrophysicist (and atheist) Neil deGrasse Tyson has this to say about studying the cosmos:

When I reflect on how I first got interested in the universe, I realize that I was called. [After visiting the Hayden Planetarium in Manhattan at the age of nine] I don’t think I had any choice in the matter. The universe came out of the sky, entered my body and from then on I knew I wanted to study the universe. My experience was almost spiritual in the sense that it had no obvious drivers to it.

He wraps up by talking about wanting to communicate his love for the universe to others. He is now the director of that same planetarium. Just a reminder that skepticism can coexist with wonder, and that religion has no monopoly on reverence, awe and inspiration.

Tags: OC Pilgrimage · Science

6 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Tammy Takahashi // May 21, 2007 at 7:32 am

    We went to the JPL open house yesterday too. You can see some pics at my family blog at www(dot)jabober(dot)com.

    Neil deGrasse Tyson’s comment reminds me of a book I’m reading right now called “Curious Minds: How a Child Becomes a Scientist.” It’s a collection of essays by scientists like Richard Dawkins, Howard Gardner, Freeman Dyson, and Ray Kurzweil, explaining what it was that made/inspired/cultivated them into a scientist. Very exciting read indeed!

    I also just finished reading the Princess Diaries. I recommend that book too – a nice light-hearted coming of age story. It’s nice to take a break from all this seriousness once in a while. Don’t you agree John :)

  • 2 John // May 21, 2007 at 11:28 am

    Tammy, thanks for the book recommendations (my kids have read the Diaries, but I haven’t yet–it’s hard to keep up with them!). It’s funny that we were so close–we probably passed each other at some point.

    Have you been to the Griffith Park Observatory? If so, would you consider it visit-worthy?

  • 3 Tammy Takahashi // May 21, 2007 at 11:37 am

    The observatory is high on our list. The thing that has stalled us: we need an appt. to go. Planning ahead is not our strong suit.

    BUT, we are skilled at showing up enthusiastically to things other people have set up.

    Short answer then: No, have not been. Yes, visit-worthy.

    Have you been to the Discovery Science Museum in LA? Or Kidspace Museum in Pasadena?

  • 4 Elaine Frei // May 21, 2007 at 8:32 pm

    Oh, John…Go to the Observatory. Go. Go. Go.

    Well, I can’t speak for it since it has been remodeled, since I haven’t been, but I grew up going there often. The planetarium shows were always top-notch (for a look at how the shows used to be, watch “Rebel Without a Cause” for a 1955 sample; I remember the shows when I went there in the 60s to have been very similar, if perhaps not quite so dramatic), and the displays were fun and interesting. I imagine that they can only have improved with the remodel.

    As Tammy said, apparently you have to have parking reservations now to go, but it seems like it would be more than worth the extra effort to do that.

  • 5 John // May 22, 2007 at 5:42 am

    I’m spoiled when it comes to observatories. One year Jana gave me a student membership to the excellent Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake City, which seemed to be well funded and had a wide selection of programs. The Griffith Observatory seems limited by comparison (they only have one show right now). But with the two of advocating (Elaine so enthusiastically), I am going to check it out.

  • 6 Miko // May 22, 2007 at 12:11 pm

    that sounds supercool! I live biking distance (long walking distance) to the observatory and would be happy to drive ppl there/pick them up so they don’t have to deal with parking (it’s my understanding that the appt. is for parking). We have bikes that can be borrowed or would be happy to bike/walk with people to show them the way. (per Google, it’s 7 miles, so maybe biking or carpooling is best :-p) That said, I haven’t been yet…

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