"Look at the stars. Look how they shine for you."
At the start of the summer, I spent a day at Space Center Houston, home of the Johnson Space Center and the famed Mission Control. It was a fascinating visit, one spent soaking up the history of space exploration and touring the very place where some of humanity's greatest journeys into the cosmos were guided.
Naturally, no visit would be complete without a trip through the gift shop. As I browsed the shelves, Richard Panek's Pillars of Creation immediately caught my eye. I remembered the awe that surrounded the first images released from the James Webb Space Telescope, but beyond those stunning pictures, I realized I knew very little about how the telescope came to be or what it was actually capable of. Pillars of Creation seemed like the perfect opportunity to find out.
Panek strikes just the right balance between sharing the history of the telescope and exploring its discoveries without ever making you feel like you're reading a textbook. I had no idea how many decades of scientific work went into Webb's creation, let alone the political maneuvering required to secure enough funding from Congress to actually make it happen. It's kind of crazy to think that all of the discoveries that have come from Webb, and those still being studied today, could have been squashed by politics before the telescope ever left the ground. But hey, that's the world we live in.
Plenty of time is devoted to the people behind Webb, humanizing a subject that is admittedly out of this world in its scope. Their persistence, curiosity, and belief in what this telescope could accomplish are just as fascinating as the science itself. I came away from Pillars of Creation with a much greater understanding and appreciation for the work being done to explore our universe and the people dedicating their lives to making those discoveries possible. More than anything, the book left me wanting to keep learning, keep exploring, and, perhaps, spend a little more time looking up at the stars.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2026, 62)
Humanizing science is so important. My grad school professor made us learn a lot of personal information about the scientist we would teach for that reason. Good to hear you picked a winner.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It really gives us the "why" behind everything and reminds us of our shared humanity.
DeleteMy son would've loved to visit the Johnson Space Station! What a cool outing and then coming away with a good book on top of it is a bonus!
ReplyDeleteIt's very much worth a visit! I had been probably 20+ years ago when I was a kid, so it was cool to revisit as an adult.
DeleteGreat find. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI didn't know you could visit the Space Center.
ReplyDelete"More than anything, the book left me wanting to keep learning, keep exploring, and, perhaps, spend a little more time looking up at the stars."
Great accomplishment!
They have so many cool artifacts from the history of space travel, and seem to have been reignited a bit by the public's interest in the Artemis missions to the moon. I highly recommend a visit if you ever get a chance. Though I know that would be quite the trip for you!
DeleteThe James Webb telescope is so cool. I've seen some of the pictures from it when they are posted on social media.
ReplyDeleteIt really is incredible!
DeleteNo museum visited this summer for me. Sad :( But the book sounds interesting
ReplyDeleteI can't resist a trip to the museum. Hope you get to make a visit to one soon!
DeleteSounds interesting! I hope there are lots of photos in it from the telescope. I love seeing those. :D
ReplyDeleteYes! Several pages of full color photos!
DeleteI love picking up niche nonfiction in a good giftshop! Giftshops are definitely the place that nonfiction speaks to me the loudest.
ReplyDeleteI can't resist a stop to browse the books haah
DeleteThis sounds like a fascinating read! Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteIt was!
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