Cosmic Quotations, Poetry, Cosmic Quotations, Poetry, and Prose:and Prose:

A compilation of reflections on our A compilation of reflections on our Universe.Universe.

Edited by Julie Ware, Physics 133 Extra Credit Project

IntroductionIntroduction::

Einstein, the same man who discovered the Law of Relativity, also said that “imagination is more important than knowledge.” This is true because to desire an understanding of the heavens, your imagination must first be probed by curiosity. In order to even begin understanding the laws of the Universe, it requires imagination to understand just how grand of a scale we are talking about. I want to incorporate both science and reflections of the imagination by summarizing certain astronomical topics, while including quotes or prose from famous physicists and authors

“Cosmos Dancing”, by Jo Ann Durham

Astronomy QuotesAstronomy Quotes

Pure mathematics is, in its way, the Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas. (Albert Einstein)poetry of logical ideas. (Albert Einstein)

The cosmos is all there is, all there ever was, and all there ever will be. (Carl Sagan)

““We especially need imagination in We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but is somewhat beauty and logic, but is somewhat beauty and poetry.” (Maria Mitchell,1818-1889, poetry.” (Maria Mitchell,1818-1889, astronomer )astronomer )

The History of AstronomyThe History of Astronomy

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ArcheostronomyArcheostronomy The history of astronomy is immense because it’s in human nature The history of astronomy is immense because it’s in human nature

to be curious. As far back as 2,500 years ago, Muslim people to be curious. As far back as 2,500 years ago, Muslim people predicted eclipses using saros cycles. Also, the heavens were used predicted eclipses using saros cycles. Also, the heavens were used to keep track of seasons for agriculture, using sundials to observe to keep track of seasons for agriculture, using sundials to observe the passing of time. Ancient structures were used in search of the passing of time. Ancient structures were used in search of astronomical connections. For example, the Stonehenge was built astronomical connections. For example, the Stonehenge was built as early as approx. 2,500 BC to mark the seasons.as early as approx. 2,500 BC to mark the seasons.

Before the Copernican revolution, people believed that the world Before the Copernican revolution, people believed that the world was the center of the universe. This one misconception led people was the center of the universe. This one misconception led people to entertain complex and ultimately untrue laws of nature, for to entertain complex and ultimately untrue laws of nature, for example, that the planets traveled around earth in complex example, that the planets traveled around earth in complex retrograde cycles.retrograde cycles.

In 1542, Copernicus published “Concerning the Revolutions of the In 1542, Copernicus published “Concerning the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spears,” which replaced prior geometric layouts and put Heavenly Spears,” which replaced prior geometric layouts and put was Heliocentric. Though Copernicus’ ideas were not all right, he was Heliocentric. Though Copernicus’ ideas were not all right, he did however spark a necessary scientific revolution, leading to did however spark a necessary scientific revolution, leading to Kepler, Galileo, as well as many others to begin the development of Kepler, Galileo, as well as many others to begin the development of modern day scientific principles.modern day scientific principles.

Kepler’s laws of planetary motion states that every planet orbits Kepler’s laws of planetary motion states that every planet orbits around the sun at an ellipse, as well as another invisible point, a around the sun at an ellipse, as well as another invisible point, a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times in orbit, and more planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times in orbit, and more distant planets orbit the sun at slower speeds.distant planets orbit the sun at slower speeds.

Galileo used the telescope to show that the heavens were not Galileo used the telescope to show that the heavens were not perfect, leading us to seek natural explanations for phenomena. perfect, leading us to seek natural explanations for phenomena.

History of Astronomy History of Astronomy QuotesQuotes They came to a round hole in the sky, burning like fire. They came to a round hole in the sky, burning like fire.

"This," said the Raven, "is a star.""This," said the Raven, "is a star."Inuit creation story Inuit creation story

Even sticks and stones have a spiritual essence, a Even sticks and stones have a spiritual essence, a manifestation of the mysterious power that fills the manifestation of the mysterious power that fills the Universe.Universe.Sioux Indian Sioux Indian

It is indeed immensely picturesque. I can fancy sitting It is indeed immensely picturesque. I can fancy sitting all a summer's day watching its shadows shorten and all a summer's day watching its shadows shorten and lengthen again, and drawing a delicious contrast lengthen again, and drawing a delicious contrast between the world's duration and the feeble span of between the world's duration and the feeble span of individual experience. There is something in Stonehenge individual experience. There is something in Stonehenge almost reassuring; and if you are disposed to feel that almost reassuring; and if you are disposed to feel that life is rather a superficial matter, and that we soon get life is rather a superficial matter, and that we soon get to the bottom of things, the immemorial gray pillars to the bottom of things, the immemorial gray pillars may serve to remind you of the enormous background of may serve to remind you of the enormous background of time.time.Henry James 1875 CEHenry James 1875 CE

Pre-Copernican Revolution in Western Pre-Copernican Revolution in Western CivilizationsCivilizations

There are forces in nature called Love and Hate. There are forces in nature called Love and Hate. The force of Love causes elements to be attracted The force of Love causes elements to be attracted to each other and to be built up into some to each other and to be built up into some particular form or person, and the force of Hate particular form or person, and the force of Hate causes the decomposition of things.causes the decomposition of things.Empedocles 430 BCE Empedocles 430 BCE

The forces of rotation caused red hot masses of The forces of rotation caused red hot masses of stones to be torn away from the Earth and to be stones to be torn away from the Earth and to be thrown into the ether, and this is the origin of the thrown into the ether, and this is the origin of the stars.stars.Anaxagoras 428 BCE Anaxagoras 428 BCE

The Sun is a mass of fiery stone, a little larger The Sun is a mass of fiery stone, a little larger than Greece.than Greece.Anaxagoras 434 BCE Anaxagoras 434 BCE

Post Copernican Revolution:Post Copernican Revolution:

The Universe is populated by innumerable The Universe is populated by innumerable suns, innumerable earths, and perhaps, suns, innumerable earths, and perhaps, innumerable forms of life. That thought innumerable forms of life. That thought expresses the essence of the Copernican expresses the essence of the Copernican revolution. No revelation more striking has revolution. No revelation more striking has ever come from the scientific mind.ever come from the scientific mind.Robert Jastrow 1989 CERobert Jastrow 1989 CE

You realize the sun don'-go downIt's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

The Flaming Lips, “Do You Realize?”The Flaming Lips, “Do You Realize?”

Key Key AstronomicAstronomic

al al Principles: Principles:

Making Sense of It All The universal law of gravitation states that every

mass attracts other mass by gravity and is directly proportional. The strength of gravity between objects decreases with the square of their distance between centers. (Inverse square law) Our gravity on earth is 9.8 m/s squared.

Motion: Newton’s version of Kepler’s 3rd law allows us to measure orbital periods by distance, mass, and orbital periods. Also, Velocity is equaled to distance divided by time.

Conservation of angular momentum explains that orbits and rotations cannot change course unless torque acts upon the paths. Conservation of momentum states that nothing can change unless acted upon by another force. Conservation of energy applies the same principle, that energy cannot just disappear or appear, but changes only by exchanges of energy.

“But on your tiny planet, my little prince, all you need to do is move your chair a few steps. You can see the day end and the twilight falling whenever you like…“One day,” you said to me, “I saw the sunset forty-four times!”And a little later you added:“You know--one loves the sunset, when one is so sad…”“Were you so sad, then?” I asked, “on the day of the forty-four sunsets?”But the little prince made no reply. Antoine De Saint-Exupery The Little Prince

Orbital Velocity: Laws of Motion

Watch the stars and from them learn.To the Master's honor all must turn,Each in its track, without a sound,Forever tracing Newton's ground.Albert Einstein

Universal Concepts Observations always involve theory. Edwin Hubble

GravityGravity is only the bark of wisdom's tree, but it is what

preserves it.Confucius 500 BCE

Time: For us physicists, the distinction between past, present, and future is only an illusion.Albert Einstein

A day is a miniature eternity.Ralph Waldo Emerson

To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.William Blake 1800 CE

Time begins from some placeMeasured by the age of light.It began from the furthest thingWe see flicker in the night.Art Mason

http://www.swosu.edu/physics/images/astronomy/planets.montage.jpl.jpg

Our Solar Our Solar SystemSystem

The Sun and It’s PlanetsThe Sun and It’s Planets- The earth rotates, thus making it appear that stars The earth rotates, thus making it appear that stars

rise and set, (including our sun.)rise and set, (including our sun.)- The tilt of the earth as it revolves around the sun The tilt of the earth as it revolves around the sun

causes seasons, or different hemispheres to feel causes seasons, or different hemispheres to feel light more or less directly.light more or less directly.

- Planets that are closer to the sun are Terrestial, or, Planets that are closer to the sun are Terrestial, or, earthlike and rocky.earthlike and rocky.

- Planets that are farther from the sun are Jovian, or Planets that are farther from the sun are Jovian, or jupiterlike and gaseous. jupiterlike and gaseous.

- The origin of the solar system is thought to be by The origin of the solar system is thought to be by the Nebular Theory, a giant gaseous explosion. the Nebular Theory, a giant gaseous explosion. Condensation and Accretion help support the Condensation and Accretion help support the nebular theory. nebular theory.

- We are able to know the composition of the sun by We are able to know the composition of the sun by observing absorption lines, which serve as observing absorption lines, which serve as fingerprints formed in the photosphere. fingerprints formed in the photosphere.

- The Sun is composed of many layers, including the The Sun is composed of many layers, including the core, radiation zone, convention zone, photosphere, core, radiation zone, convention zone, photosphere, chromosphone, and the corona. It’s energy source chromosphone, and the corona. It’s energy source can be found through E=MC^2can be found through E=MC^2

The SunThe Sun

The Sun, with all the planets The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else grapes as though it had nothing else in the Universe to do.in the Universe to do.

Galileo Galileo GalileiGalilei ““I say Live, Live because of the Sun, The I say Live, Live because of the Sun, The

Dream, the excitable gift.”Dream, the excitable gift.” Anne Sexton, 1928-1974, P 495Anne Sexton, 1928-1974, P 495

EarthEarth

““The Evolution of the world may be compared The Evolution of the world may be compared to a display of fireworks that has just ended: to a display of fireworks that has just ended: some few red wisps, ashes, and smoke. some few red wisps, ashes, and smoke. Standing on a cooled cinder, we see the slow Standing on a cooled cinder, we see the slow fading of suns, and we try to recall the fading of suns, and we try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origin of the vanished brilliance of the origin of the worlds.” worlds.” ((G. Lemaitre, 1864-1966). P 235G. Lemaitre, 1864-1966). P 235

See the world as it truly is, See the world as it truly is, small and blue, beautiful in small and blue, beautiful in that eternal silence where it that eternal silence where it floats.floats.Archibald MacleishArchibald Macleish

www.weathernewengland.com

The MoonThe Moon Is the moon tired? Is the moon tired?

she looks so paleshe looks so paleWithin her misty veil:Within her misty veil:She scales the sky She scales the sky from east to west,from east to west,And takes no rest. And takes no rest. Before the coming of Before the coming of the nightthe nightThe moon shows The moon shows papery white;papery white;Before the dawning Before the dawning of the dayof the dayShe fades away. She fades away.

- Christina Rossetti- Christina Rossettiwww.stariel.com/?page_id=140

StellarStellar Lifestyles Lifestyles

http://www.nasaimages.org/luna/servlet/detail/nasaNAS~12~12~64139~168522:Story-of-Stellar-Birth

StarsStars Constellations are familiar patterns that help us to identify Constellations are familiar patterns that help us to identify

regions of the sky with well defined borders. The regions of the sky with well defined borders. The International Astronomical union has divided the sky in 88 International Astronomical union has divided the sky in 88 constellations.constellations.

We use the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram to determine We use the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram to determine properties’ of stars, which shows that Luminosity is relative properties’ of stars, which shows that Luminosity is relative to the Temperature ^4 by the Radius ^2 (The Stefan to the Temperature ^4 by the Radius ^2 (The Stefan Boltzmann Law)Boltzmann Law)

The life of a star is based on it’s mass because its mass The life of a star is based on it’s mass because its mass determines its how much energy it gives off.determines its how much energy it gives off.

Temperature is classified by OBAFGKM.Temperature is classified by OBAFGKM. The 5 classes of Luminosity include The 5 classes of Luminosity include

I SupergiantsI Supergiants II Bright GiantsII Bright Giants III GiantsIII Giants IVSubgiantsIVSubgiants V Main sequence starsV Main sequence stars

- The life of a star is a constant battle between gravity and pressure.-Highmass stars die by becoming a supernova, then either a black whole or neutron star.-Low mass stars die by becoming a planetary nubula, then a white dward.

Stars:Stars:

CompositionComposition It is remarkable that the elements diffused through It is remarkable that the elements diffused through

the host of stars are some of those most closely the host of stars are some of those most closely connected with the living organisms of our globe.connected with the living organisms of our globe.W. Huggins, 1865 CE W. Huggins, 1865 CE

God is mostly hydrogen.God is mostly hydrogen.Bradley Bradley SnowderSnowder 1988 CE 1988 CE

““we are, therefore, made out of star stuff… we feed upon we are, therefore, made out of star stuff… we feed upon sunbeams, we are kept warm by the radiation of the Sun, sunbeams, we are kept warm by the radiation of the Sun, and we are made out of the same materials that constitute and we are made out of the same materials that constitute the stars.” the stars.”

Harlow Shapley, The Universe of StarsHarlow Shapley, The Universe of Stars

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Star ClustersStar Clusters There are too many stars in some places and There are too many stars in some places and

not enough in others.not enough in others.Mark Twain Mark Twain

It is nothing else but a mass of innumerable It is nothing else but a mass of innumerable stars planted together in clusters.stars planted together in clusters.Galileo Galileo GalileiGalilei 1611 CE (the Milky Way) 1611 CE (the Milky Way)

Many a night I saw the Pleiads,Many a night I saw the Pleiads,Rising thro' the mellow shade,Rising thro' the mellow shade,Glitter like a swarm of fire-flies,Glitter like a swarm of fire-flies,Tangled in a silver braid.Tangled in a silver braid.Tennyson Tennyson

May it not be that the brighter stars are like May it not be that the brighter stars are like our Sun, the upholding and energizing centers our Sun, the upholding and energizing centers of systems of living beings?of systems of living beings?William Huggins 1865 CEWilliam Huggins 1865 CE

O had I power like inclination,O had I power like inclination,I'd hoist thee up a constellation!I'd hoist thee up a constellation!

To canter with the Sagittare,To canter with the Sagittare,Or leap the Ecliptic like a bear,Or leap the Ecliptic like a bear,Or turn the Pole like any arrow;Or turn the Pole like any arrow;

Or when old Phoebus bids good-morrowOr when old Phoebus bids good-morrowDown the Zodiac urge the race,Down the Zodiac urge the race,

And cast dirt on his godship's face:And cast dirt on his godship's face:For I could lay my bread and kaleFor I could lay my bread and kaleHe'd ne'er cast salt upon thy tail!He'd ne'er cast salt upon thy tail!

Robert Burns 1788 CE Robert Burns 1788 CE

The wind-shak'd surge, with high and monstrous main, The wind-shak'd surge, with high and monstrous main, Seems to cast water on the burning Bear, And quench Seems to cast water on the burning Bear, And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole.the guards of the ever-fixed pole.Shakespeare, (Othello)Shakespeare, (Othello)

Constellations Constellations Why did not somebody teach me the constellations, and make Why did not somebody teach me the constellations, and make me at home in the starry heavens, which are always overhead, me at home in the starry heavens, which are always overhead, and which I don't half know to this day?and which I don't half know to this day?Thomas Carlyle 1880 CEThomas Carlyle 1880 CE

http://nightglories.com/images/Big%20Dipper.jpg

The Stellar GraveyardThe Stellar Graveyard

When I had satisfied myself When I had satisfied myself that no star of that kind had that no star of that kind had ever shone before, I was led ever shone before, I was led into such perplexity by the into such perplexity by the unbelievability of the thing that unbelievability of the thing that I began to doubt the faith of my I began to doubt the faith of my own eyes.own eyes.TychoTycho BraheBrahe (supernova 1572) (supernova 1572)

Our Our Galaxy-Galaxy- The Milky Way The Milky Way

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GalaxiesGalaxies- In the early 1600s Galileo used the telescope to In the early 1600s Galileo used the telescope to

show that the milky way is composed of individual show that the milky way is composed of individual stars.stars.

- We are a spiral galaxy with many spiral arms that We are a spiral galaxy with many spiral arms that revolve around a bulge on a relatively flat disk, revolve around a bulge on a relatively flat disk, surrounded by a dimmer halo. The Halo contains surrounded by a dimmer halo. The Halo contains about 200 globular clusters of stars.about 200 globular clusters of stars.

- Our galaxy is abour 100,000 light years in diameter.Our galaxy is abour 100,000 light years in diameter.- We can use stellar orbits to measure galactic mass We can use stellar orbits to measure galactic mass

through Kepler’s third law.through Kepler’s third law.- We’re recycled throughout our galaxy through the We’re recycled throughout our galaxy through the

star-gas-star cycle.star-gas-star cycle. The other types of galaxies are elliptical and The other types of galaxies are elliptical and

irregular. Elliptical galaxies are most often found in irregular. Elliptical galaxies are most often found in clusters , containing 100s to thousands of other clusters , containing 100s to thousands of other galaxies.galaxies.

Andromeda is the closest galaxy to the Milky Way at about 2.5 million light years away.

Local groups consist of about 40 galaxies, with 3 million light years across.

Galaxy QuotesGalaxy QuotesThe infinitude of creation is great enough to make a The infinitude of creation is great enough to make a

world, or a Milky Way of worlds, look in comparison world, or a Milky Way of worlds, look in comparison with it what a flower or an insect does in comparison with it what a flower or an insect does in comparison with the Earth.with the Earth.Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant

Torrent of light and river of air,Torrent of light and river of air,Along whose bed the glimmering stars are seen,Along whose bed the glimmering stars are seen,Like gold and silver sands in some ravine Like gold and silver sands in some ravine Where mountain streams have left their channels Where mountain streams have left their channels bare!bare!H.W. Longfellow 1880 CE (the Milky Way) H.W. Longfellow 1880 CE (the Milky Way)

Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people.there are far more galaxies than people.Carl Carl SaganSagan

That is the spiral galaxy in Andromeda. It is as large as our That is the spiral galaxy in Andromeda. It is as large as our Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galaxies. It consists of Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galaxies. It consists of

one hundred billion suns. Now I think we are small enough. one hundred billion suns. Now I think we are small enough. Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt

TheThe Universe Universe- Our observable universe is about 14 Billion years old. Weknow this because we are able to see 14 Billion light years in all directions around us.

-The Universe is expanding and can be measured by Hubble’s Law, where H tells us the rate of expansion that galaxies are moving apart. 1/H tells us how long the universe has been expanding (age.)

--Our observable universe is growing 1 light year every year.

-- An object’s distance is easier to be expressed in look back time.

-Lookback time is directly proportional to cosmological redshift, and thus we can record how the expansion of the universe expands photons, shifting them to redder wavelengths.

Universe QuotesUniverse Quotes "What did you see?" I asked, "Before beginning's Big "What did you see?" I asked, "Before beginning's Big

Bang lights?" Bang lights?" (I reviews and interviews, I edits and I writes). (I reviews and interviews, I edits and I writes). "Before the start of time, before the Universe's birth?"Before the start of time, before the Universe's birth?What did the Hubble show, ten billion years before the What did the Hubble show, ten billion years before the Earth?"Earth?"He told me. Now I writes no more. I drinks a bit, I edits.He told me. Now I writes no more. I drinks a bit, I edits."Right before the beginning, " he said, "is when they "Right before the beginning, " he said, "is when they roll the credits!"roll the credits!"Jonathan Jonathan VosVos Post Post

Images of broken light which dance before me like a Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes that call me on and on across the million eyes that call me on and on across the Universe. Limitless undying love which shines around Universe. Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns, it calls me on and on across the me like a million suns, it calls me on and on across the Universe.Universe.The Beatles 1968 CEThe Beatles 1968 CE

The universal spectacle throughoutThe universal spectacle throughoutWas shaped for admiration and delight,Was shaped for admiration and delight,Grand in itself alone, but in that breachGrand in itself alone, but in that breach

Through which the homeless voice of waters Through which the homeless voice of waters rose,rose,

That dark deep thoroughfare, had Nature That dark deep thoroughfare, had Nature lodgedlodged

The Soul, the Imagination of the whole.The Soul, the Imagination of the whole.(Wordsworth)(Wordsworth)

Our eyes prefer to supposeOur eyes prefer to supposeThat a habitable placeThat a habitable placeHas a geocentric view,Has a geocentric view,That architects encloseThat architects encloseA quiet Euclidian space:A quiet Euclidian space:

Exploded myths - but whoExploded myths - but whoCould feel at home astraddleCould feel at home astraddle

An ever expanding saddle? An ever expanding saddle? – W.H. Auden – W.H. Auden

Starry NightStarry Night

Vincent Van Gogh

Works CitedWorks Cited Artwork:

Durham Collection." Welcome to Tarleton State University - Tarleton State University. 10 May 2009 <http://www.tarleton.edu/~langdoncenter/DurhamCollection/pages/Cosmos%20Dancing.html>.

Van Gogh, Vincent. Starry Night, oil on canvas by Vincent van Gogh, 1888; in the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

Books: Bennett, Jeffrey. Cosmic Perspective. 5th Edition. San Francisco: Pearson Educ. Inc.,

2008. Saint-Exupery, Antoine de. The Little Prince. San Diego New York London: Harcourt,

Inc., 2000. Poetry:

Auden, WH. Poetry, “After Reading a Child's Guide to Modern Physics,” The New Yorker, November 17, 1962, p. 48

Rossetti, Christina, Poetry, “Sing Song,” Ed. Arthur Hughes. London: MACMILLAN AND CO.,1893.

Wordsworth, William. “Climbing Snowdon” (Book XIII, ls 1-119.) The Prelude. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986.

Quotations: Western Washington University Planetarium Collection. Ed. Brad Snowder. 2006.

Western Washington University. 10 May 2009 <http://www.wwu.edu/depts/skywise/cosmo.html>

On Truth & RealityThe Spherical Standing Wave Structure of Matter in Space. Ed.Geoff Haselhurst.1997-2009. WSM. 9 May 2009 <http://www.spaceandmotion.com/mathematical-physics/famous-mathematics-quotes.htm>