OK, I’m gonna get all astronomical on you now. So, if you’re not interested in perspectives about things like astronomy and navigation, you should probably tune me out for now. Because you might glaze over as I gab on about a particular celestial sphere.
Before I go on, here’s a complex definition of a celestial sphere:
“In astronomy and navigation, a celestial sphere is an abstract sphere that has an arbitrarily large radius and is concentric to Earth.” Are you still with me? Good. Here’s more details about it:
“All objects in the sky can be conceived as being projected upon the inner surface of the celestial sphere, which may be centered on Earth or the observer. If centered on the observer, half of the sphere would resemble a hemispherical screen over the observing location.”
So, admit it. You’re more intrigued than you ever thought you could be on this subject. Right?
Before you get too excited, remember, the celestial sphere is a conceptual tool.
It’s “used in spherical astronomy to specify the position of an object in the sky without consideration of its linear distance from the observer.” AND, “the celestial equator divides the celestial sphere into northern and southern hemispheres.”
OK, never mind. I know you don’t care about all that. And neither do I.
But I’ll bet you’d like the picture I shared, about 10 years ago, that showed what baffled scientists are calling the Saturn Rings River. The picture showed pitted areas on the surface. Even though many have speculated the surface is gaseous. But the picture clearly depicts something more along the lines of metamorphic materials.
Also, you can see where the Saturn Rings River might have once had tributaries. Another explanation of the wider, dark areas might be an aquifer from which the headwaters sprang forth.
Here’s what I said about it, 10 years ago:
“At the top of the photo (we’ll call it North for the sake of easy recognition) you’ll see what appears to be an estuarial area. This could have been an inlet from a larger bay or even ocean at one time billions and billions of years ago. Or it could even provide an answer or missing link to where all other celestial bodies in our solar system originated.
Here’s the point. We’ve never had such clear, high definition images of any of Saturn’s rings or other surface areas before. So this one renews the spark of imagination and storytelling in anti-creationist scientists all over the world. (emphasis on imagination and storytelling, read on…)
After all…just think of the endless possibilities, hypotheses, and suppositions one can derive from unconfirmed truths.”
And that’s how so many stories of Earth’s origin come to be. From the imagination of the majority of people who despise the inconvenience of the young Earth creationist perspective. They can see a picture, like the one I shared, and create an entire backstory for a celestial sphere or its satellites.
And just so you know, the picture I shared is actually a closeup of the cream on top of my coffee.
Fast Forward
Fast forward to the scene by the ocean
You’re shattered and fatigued with emotion
Fast forward to a time of reflection
Then you can use your hindsight direction
To help explain that angst and depression
Fast forward past your dreamland expression
Can’t you just imagine…how it all might be
If we end up dying and find out that we live
Can’t you hear the questions… “How could we not see?”
“Where’s the one in charge?” and “How much do I give”
Chorus
In awe of all creation and how it all could be
The fairy tale illusions increase with every year
The wrinkled plans expand…exponentially
Until one day, perhaps, a duck becomes a deer
chorus
What does this all mean?
And why should we care?
That we didn’t come from slime!
And there’s a God out there!
Fast forward!
© 2002
Stay tuned,
