Great article Glen. I think that the cultural significance of the night sky goes way beyond contributing to our own national identity though. The night sky has been a source of fascination and curiosity to man since our ancient ancestors first gazed upwards. It has figured in the religions and mythologies of cultures and civilisations across the globe. Without the stars, what would have prompted our quest for knowledge about our place in the universe, and the nature of the universe. In modern times, this quest for knowledge has played a significant part in man’s rapid technological advancement.
Just imagine what it would be like on similar worlds to ours, stuck in close proximity to some of the vast bright nebulae we struggle to see in our scopes. Places where no night sky exists, where no inkling of being part of such a vast whole could possibly exist, where an incredibly myopic view of existence must be held by any life form advanced enough to crawl out of the swamp! Yet we are fast creating these places on earth - welcome to our megacities!
Cheers -
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