Social Torments

Abstract

By its nature, observation of the sky is a singularly personal experience. One eye is pressed up to the eyepiece of a telescope, yielding a unique view on the universe. Indeed, some say that it can never be known for sure that what one observer sees is exactly the same as that seen by another. But there is no room for that sort of philosophizing twaddle here! Astronomical observation needs no crowd of adoring onlookers, no teammates to pass the ball, no steadying hand of a wise sage, no dancing line of rah-rah girls, or group of supporting technicians. Communion with the cosmos requires but a lone observer. And this is how most astronomers start out – on their own.