Sky & Telescope April 1999 [antikvár]

Astronomy's Magic ReachJ o gather the whole of astronomy is like trying to catch dust bunnies dancing around a drafty room. Whenever you grab J one, another scampers by. Astronomy is as multifaceted as a brilliant-cut diamond, an infinite font of ideas and imagination. So much to learn, so much to learn of.In January 1 escaped current headlines and winged my way to the Republic of Malta. 1 visited this archipelago of ancient culture to hear news from hundreds and thousands of years ago, news scripted by millions of now-silent voices. Some are so distant that only their echoes remain in space, for sure; in time, less secure.The venue was the second conference on the Inspiration of Astronomical Phenomena (INSAP, http://ethel.as.arizona. edu/~white/insap.htm), a cozy mix of artists, historians, theologians, architects, and, of course, astronomers. (The eclecticism justified going, but Siren seduction can't be ruled out!) INSAP is a brilliant idea: to gather together hierophants so they can explore how astronomy has influenced culture throughout history.In an era when professionals of all stripes have become ever more specialized, such meetings are essential to remind us of the fullness of life. INSAP is particularly special because it gives diverse enthusiasts a chance to interact free of peer pressure. Astronomers can come down to Earth; nonastronomers can reach for the stars.Art and architecture were dominant themes. I got a bit of spontaneous applause when 1 remarked that space-age artists tend to be illustrators and that their works don't often touch me. With few exceptions, like Greg Mort, they stress "realism" and omit allegoty. I guess I enjoy the cloak of mystery and cipher, the stuff that pervades medieval works.Time, too, changes one's perspective. The megalithic temples I visited, with their cryptic alignments to the sky, have basked in B.C.'s sunbeams far longer than in A.D.'s. I could easily embrace them as art, architecture, and apotheosis. (As evidenced by graffiti, fools see only rubble piles.)It's easy to underappreciate astronomy's impact on culture. And it's easy to forget that astronomy stands alone among the sciences: since Roman times, it is the only one to be passed intact from generation to generation. (Yes, until a few hundred years ago its consort was astrology. But that wasn't bad. Positional astronomy flourished because of the needs of horoscope casters.) I left INSAP II confident that astronomy defines deeply aU that we are.A theme that percolated within my head throughout the meeting involved the confluence of mathematical truth and artistic beauty. Both frame the human experience, as deeply as waltz motifs frame Der Rosenkavalier. I yield to Keats for denouement: "What the imagination seizes as beauty must be truth whether it existed before or not."