Mars

Hercules Globular Cluster (M13)

So last night I went to a telescope party for a Physical Optics class that I am in. These are just a couple of the things that we looked at. The universe is an amazing thing. Overwhelming, really.

(If you want to perform a quick test to see if you are a nerd, just ask yourself if you have been to a telescope party. If you answer no, you are cool. If you answer yes, as I would have to, than you are a geek and probably don't have a girlfriend, or any friends really, except for your Star Trek books and the people you know from playing online role playing games. Luckily, I am already married, so I don't have to worry about it.)

Anyways, these images represent some of what we looked at through telescopes made by our professor. Obviously, Mars didn't look like that to us. But it was surprisingly clear. (I think this is the best time of the year to see Mars.) The telescope was so powerful that we had to move it as we were looking through in order to compensate for the rotation of the earth, as the images continually moved across the sky. It really was amazing.

Looking at our amazing solar system, which is part of our unbelievable galaxy, which is part of an incomprehensible universe really got me thinking. First of all, we really are nothing. A thin vapor, here today and gone tomorrow, I believe the Bible describes it as. Secondly, I just can't comprehend this beautifully organized system (I'm talking about all the physical constants that allow for the organization) is the result of a random "bang!" I think it was more of a purpose-driven "BANG!" that had everything, including us, in mind. Cosmology, if anything, is at least an overwhelming proof of Deism and a huge blow to atheism.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20