Finding Our Place in the Cosmos Through the Lens of Art, Culture, History and Science | Smithsonian Voices

Some of humanity’s greatest unsolved questions have to do with the nature of the universe. These questions have been pondered for generations as humans strive to understand how galaxies, stars and planets formed. At the Smithsonian, planetary scientists and astrophysicists continue to lead the quest to unlock the fundamental mysteries of the cosmos, bringing us closer to the answers than ever before. They explore Earth’s place in our own solar system, as well as other Earth-like worlds orbiting distant stars; they explore the history of the universe from Earth’s geological past and present to the formation and evolution of planets, stars and galaxies; and they demonstrate the results of their research and relate them to the artistic and cultural endeavors of mankind.

Not an astrophysicist? No problem! Anyone, regardless of age or background, can make a personal connection with heaven. To get started, think about these connections you might have with the cosmos: seeing a “shooting star,” following patterns in constellations, family outdoor trips, enjoying favorite sci-fi movies or books, witnessing historic astronomical events like eclipse, attending festivals centered on the sun or moon, or even experiencing seasonal sightings.

Finding our place in the cosmos

A new Smithsonian guide, “Wonder & Awe,” features stories and activities that connect us to our “place in space” through the lens of art, culture, history and science. The sky belongs to everyone, from the women who mapped the universe more than a century ago, to the astronomers who took the first picture of a black hole, to the artists who inspire us with celestial connections.

Art and Culture in the Universe

Artist Alma Thomas (1891–1978) was curious about the wonders of the universe. A unique figure in twentieth-century American art history, Thomas developed his unique style of abstract painting after retiring from a long career as an art teacher in Washington. Her colorful, rhythmic paintings are influenced by elements of nature, music and space. The Smithsonian American Art Museum holds the largest public collection of works by Alma Thomas in the world. Many of Thomas’s space paintings—from her brilliant red canvas inspired by the supergiant star Antares to her circular rainbow composition referencing the Apollo 8 lunar module nicknamed “Snoopy”—reflect the vibrant optimism of the space age. Her picture The eclipse was inspired by a total solar eclipse in 1970 and reflects the moment when the Moon fleetingly blocks Earth’s view of the Sun, becoming a dark sphere surrounded by an explosion of light and color on canvas.

The unique vision of artists and cultural storytellers has helped translate the wonders of the universe for centuries. The oral traditions of the Tlingit people of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest explain the origins of certain celestial bodies and inspired artist Preston Singletary to create The raven steals the sunsculpture inspired by the story of the trickster Raven, who captures the Sun, Moon and stars and releases them to bring light to our world. Artist Margaret Nazon, a member of the Gwich’in First Nation in Tsiigehtchic, Northwest Territories, Canada, creates fabric and bead artwork based on images from the Hubble Space Telescope, combining traditional beading techniques she learned as a child. with modern scientific images. Her fabric artwork Night sky depicts galaxies of stars, comets, and constellations, including the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, and Orion, the Orion, objects that help people orient themselves by the stars.

Unlocking the mysteries of the universe

Unraveling the mysteries of the universe is a complex process, with each discovery building on the last. At the Smithsonian, we have a long history of peering into space in search of these answers. Samuel Pierpont Langley, the Smithsonian’s third secretary, founded the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) in 1890 primarily to study the Sun. Today, SAO’s efforts to understand the physical processes of the Sun and the many ways it affects Earth, like all of our astrophysical research, require teams of experts from diverse backgrounds. Indeed, this collaborative effort is what makes modern astrophysical research so successful. From engineers to imaging scientists, astrophysicists to artificial intelligence experts, data scientists to educators, broad and diverse teams are needed to answer our unresolved questions about the nature of the universe.

As Mary Dussault, science education program manager at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, says, “There are thousands of things you can do in science education. First, you can learn more about the universe. Then you can do whatever you’re great at to help other people learn. if you are an artist, you can create great infographics; if you are a writer, you can write fascinating articles; if you are a maker of hands, you can create museum exhibits; if you are a you-tuber, you can create videos that teach science; if you like working in a team, you can train other teachers.’

Expanding astronomical horizons

NASA’s great observatories have given us, and continue to give us, some of the most awe-inspiring glimpses into our universe. Their ability to capture information beyond what our eyes can see provides us with new and exciting opportunities to understand the world around us every day. The Chandra X-ray Observatory, one of these great observatories – currently celebrating its 25th anniversary – recently teamed up with the James Webb Space Telescope to discover the most distant black hole ever detected with X-rays. This new discovery is believed to be the best evidence yet that some early black holes formed from massive clouds of gas. But you don’t have to have access to NASA telescopes to be part of this great community of night sky explorers! You just have to be curious.

Here are some great ideas to get you started:

• Pay attention to the Moon and the Sun. Anyone, no matter where they live, can get involved in observing our two most famous celestial objects.
• Start looking up: Find a dark place like a high school field, a park, or in a city it could be a rooftop that you have safe access to. Bring a blanket and let your eyes adjust. Searching for constellations is a great way to start.
• Telescopes and binoculars can really improve your observation. Did you know that many libraries have telescopes that you can borrow!
• Take your own images using the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s MicroObservatory robotic telescopes. All you need is an email address to get started.
• Explore the universe with your other senses and listen to A Universe of Sound, a project by the Chandra X-ray Observatory to convert data into sound.

We hope you are inspired by the work of scientists, artists, designers and historians featured in this guide. Tomorrow’s eclipse is a reminder that the sky belongs to everyone. Take this opportunity to expand your horizons and explore your personal, cultural and scientific connections to the sky. Just like the universe, our connections to the world around us are constantly evolving. What stories do you want to tell about your place in space? Join the Smithsonian in expressing them through poetry, painting, song and more. Then share them – with your friends, your family and us!

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Editor’s Note: The “Wonder & Awe” guide is now available online for viewing and download, including links to the history of the Smithsonian’s sunray logo and the graphic designer Crimilda Pontes who created it; how artists including Alma Thomas, Margaret Nazon (Gwich’in Tsiigehtchic, Northwest Territories) and Preston Singletary (Tlingit) were inspired by celestial objects; ongoing research and data collection by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and its partners; tips for watching the night sky; and avenues for students to learn more about astronomy through programming and research opportunities.