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First and foremost is simply the fact that they are esthetically pleasing. But when I look at these pictures, I feel three other things. The first is that I have some idea of just how complex the technology is which obtained them. I understand the design of the HST, its optical systems, and its computers; the relay satellites which make it possible to communicate with the HST at all times no matter where it is in its orbit, and of course with the technology which made it possible to put the HST into orbit in the first place. It's almost literally the technological pinnacle of our society, a profound achievement which will be famous for all time. These pictures make Saturn look tiny, almost like you could reach out and hold it in your hand. It is of course an illusion; Saturn is actually mammoth, and when I look at these pictures I try to imagine in my mind what it would be like to actually see it this way myself, and to really realize just how huge the planet it. It's a humbling experience. But the third experience is the most interesting in some ways, because they chose to portray these images "from below". Obviously, up and down have no meaning in this context and I believe that they've oriented the pictures with North being "up". Since it happens to be southern-hemisphere-summer for Saturn right now, that means we're shown the "bottom" of the planet. But to me, that is disturbing because as I imagine myself looking at it for real, I also imagine that there's nothing whatever "beneath" me. I think that most people who look at an astronomy picture psychologically assume a floor underneath the disembodied viewer. To some extent that's instinctive, since for us there's always something underneath us holding us up. But here there wouldn't be; if I were hanging in space looking at Saturn, then in the direction my legs were pointing there would be nothing at all, and I could travel in that direction until I hit the edge of the universe. I like to stretch my mind, to try to feel just how large some things are, and these pictures do it for me. It makes me feel very small. (discuss) |
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