Throughout history, the universe - with all its stars, galaxies, and planets - has been used over and over by civilizations across the globe. Constellations were first created by the Ancient Greeks to help prove their mythology. Still today the most famous constellation in the night sky is of the Greek hero Orion. Though other cultures have given other names to the same formation of stars, Orion has stuck through the generations and is the name still used today. In total, there are 88 official named constellations today, with 48 of them coming from Ptolemy's Almagest. When the Romans adopted the mythology of the Greeks, they renamed the gods: Zeus -> Jupiter, Cronus -> Saturn, Hermes -> Mercury, Aphrodite -> Venus, and Ares -> Mars. The planets of our solar system today have maintained these names since the Romans attributed it to them. The Romans could not see Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto with their naked eyes, but when modern astrologers discovered the planets, they attributed the names of the Roman gods to them as well (Greek equivalents: Uranus, Poseidon, and Hades, respectively). Similar to the Ancient Greeks and Romans, modern humans have created a universe "mythology" of their own. Aliens and UFOs were created from the enigma of outer space, giving possible answers to the question "Are we alone in this great universe?"
Entertainment has also been greatly affected by the world outside of our own. George Lucas took advantage of human curiosity and created one of the most popular and influential movie series of all time in Star Wars. Kids today are still dressing up as Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader for Halloween, Star Wars marathons are common occurrence at high schools and universities, Star Wars video games are still being created daily, and every once in a while you'll hear someone say "What is they bidding, my master?", "You don't know the power of the dark side!", or "Luke, I am your father!". When I listen to Radiohead's "Subterranean Homesick Alien" I feel like one myself. Turn on any given Muse album and I'll want to jump on the next shuttle out of Kennedy Space Center. Jack Johnson even makes me feel like the stars are under my control when he sings "Constellations". Then there's the master of space music, David Bowie, creator of both Major Tom and Ziggy Stardust.
The universe has been greatly manipulated by the increasing amount of technology available to researchers and scientists. Telescopes have allowed humans to analyze the stars and planets of our solar system, and even other galaxies. Many mysteries have been solved, as to the composition and placements of the universal bodies. The Hubble Space Telescope is one of a number of space telescopes that actually orbit the earth and make observations from outer space (the Hubble is simply the largest and most versatile). Through it, galaxies that are light years away can be seen, places that we cannot even fathom their distance from our planet. Science has improved our knowledge of the universe, but has also detracted from the mystery that lies in that outer unknown realm.
Within the past century space travel has become very real. From the trip of Russian Yury Gagarin in 1961 to the US moon landing of 1969 to recent Space Station missions, astronauts have been flying into outer space for nearly 50 years. Recently, however, the whole idea of human life being confined to earth has been put into question. With the International Space Station a work in constant progress, talk of other space stations and possibly future homes on Mars has arisen. The concept of humans living in outer space changes human identity entirely. Man may be able to extend to other planets, live in different conditions, and experience life in a completely different way than he does today.
I view outer space on a much more personal level. Stargazing is one of my greatest hobbies, and I go out even during winter-time just to get a glimpse of outer space. Looking at the stars gives me mixed emotions, making me first feel very small in comparison to the endlessness that lies outside of our planet. Yet at the same time I feel one with other people. With few exceptions, almost all people in life see the night sky at one time or another. In different hemispheres it may not be the same constellations, but it is still the same world outside of ours. Last year I called my love and asked her if she saw Orion in the night sky. Though she was miles away from me, when she said yes, I felt completely with her. We were both looking at the same constellation at the same time. Now time zones away, we don't see the night sky at the same time, but we still see the same stars. I still recall the scene in The Lion King about the stars:
Timon: They're fireflies. Fireflies that, uh, got stuck up on that big, bluish-black thing.
Pumba: I always thought that they were balls of gas burning billions of miles away.
Simba: Well, somebody once told me that the great kings of the past are up there, watching over us.
Pumba is of course right, yet we want to believe Simba's interpretation of the stars above our heads. He is, after all, the hero of the movie.
Personally, I just like to look up at the stars and clear my mind, yet think of everything all at once. Of life, love, everything around me. It is one of the most wonderful feelings I have ever experienced. I was once told that the most you can love someone is the distance from here to the moon, and I believe that without question. One of the most memorable times of my life was this past August, lying with my love on the cold grass, watching the performance of Perseids' Meteor Shower. That was arguably the closest I've been to bliss in my life. But I'll save that for myself and for her. However cliche it is, I can't help but end this post with lyrics from Coldplay's "Yellow". I'm going to go stargaze now. Enjoy.
"Look at the stars. Look how they shine for you. And everything you do. Yeah, they were all yellow..." - Coldplay
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