Space Beyond Reach
Monday, February 10, 2025
Space Beyond Reach
“Stop the earth, I want to get off!” was one of my favorite bumper stickers sometime in the late 1980s. Everything old is new again, as we know, and that bumper sticker is handier than ever for those of us alienated by present-day politics and government.
As it happens, the places we can actually escape to are far less than meets the eye. What meets the eye has traveled here over many long lightyears, and inconceivably vast distances. The stars in the night sky have spent millions of years moving away from where we see them thanks to the Universe’s accelerating expansion.
The science infotainment YouTube channel offers some relevant insights in a pleasing package:
Just when it would seem convenient to be able to get off the planet in search of intelligent life elsewhere, we seem to be stuck here. We should have started the trip millions of years ago, since there’s no plausible means of going back in time.
But if you think we’ve got it rough now, consider the fate of future generations a few million years hence who won’t even see those receded parts of the Universe, and think they are surrounded by the empty darkness of a comparably small and limited universe.
Good morning, everyone. I could think about space.
I like it here on Earth. The “Goose” concert was 3.5 hours long with one break. They played 4 songs (jam band joke.) We felt surrounded by 4,000 groupies. Everyone stood the entire time. It was at Miller High Life Theater (previously Milwaukee Theater) built in 1909, a grand old place somewhat refurbished. Many of the concert goers attended all three nights. We were thrilled the final song was our favorite song, “Dripfield.” The snow managed to stay north of us. The guitar and keyboard players (ah heck throw in the drummer) are seriously talented musicians.