2009 is officially the International Year of Astronomy. It marks the 400th anniversary of the telescope, first used by Galileo in 1609. In addition to being an early astronomer Galileo had an artistic side–which is evidenced by his realistic portrayal of the phases of the moon, his use of music to measure his celestial discoveries and in his poetry.
Science Writer Dava Sobel helped kick off the year of astronomy in Seattle yesterday with a talk about Galileo and the role he played in shaping a scientific field.
An astronomer, the wife of an astronomer and a science educator read selections from three poems to mark the occasion.
Star-Splitter by Robert Frost.
We are Listening by Diane Ackerman
The Flight of Apollo by Stanley Kunitz.
Casserol! STRAIGHT UP