Exoplanetary Exploration by Chipka
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Description
Though Humans are a planetary species, bound and defined by our experiences on a single planet, does it follow that we must restrict ourselves to the world of our origin? There are good answers to this question. Some are positive answers, all hinging on the idea that we should stay here and face the challenges that define our day-to-day existence: that we should act as shepherds and guardians to the environment that spawned us. Some are negations, all hinging on the idea that we should take care of what we've got, but also explore other worlds, and in so doing, delve more deeply into the convoluted mass of meanings all associated with the words human and life. Both questions—and the answers that they inspire—are worthy of deep and honest exploration. Indeed, I suspect that whether you answer “yes” or “no” to the initial question, the answers you give in support of your vote, have quite a lot to say about your initial views of humanity and our place in the universe. The question begs for complex answers, none of which can be encapsulated in a glib, sound-byte manner.
To date, humans have discovered dozens upon dozens of exoplanets: worlds orbiting stars both like and unlike our own parent sun. Most of these worlds are gas giants: jovians and super-jovians like Jupiter and his big brothers. Some are Brown Drarves, odd bodies suspended in the nether-realm between planet and star. Brown dwarves are—for all intents and purposes—failed stars, each approximate the size of a stellar core. Jovians, super-jovians, and brown dwarves are the easiest exo-planetary bodies to find. They’re big enough to influence their host stars: they cause stellar wobbles; they induce light-fluctuations as they cross between their parent star and observers on Earth. Some exist so closely to their host stars that stellar heat causes “planetary evaporation”…a rather spectacular, vaporous death, often defining the host star with a faint ring of dead planet gunk.
We have yet to discover any definitive “Earth Type” worlds, but this is sure to occur in the upcoming decades. We’ve “seen” a few: signs of them at any rate. They’re not like our own Earth in very many ways: they’re simply regarded as near-Earth-like in that they’re not very big, and they’re probably very, very hard as they’re made primarily out of rock.
I thought of exoplanets as I fiddled around with The Gimp. It’s been a while since I’d posted an actual planet render: photoshop exists on the laptop computer I left in the Czech Republic, but not on the computer I currently use. Oh well. The Gimp is a suitable substitute, for now, and now, I know how to make planets, nebulae, and little white dots that might pass for stars if you don’t look too closely at them. I’m rather pleased with this post, little more than a background, stands in honor of my first Gimp-Space render. The planet is derived from a photograph I took of a cracked concrete surface. It’s moon (details obscured, due to its small size here) is derived from…well…a brick. The rest is brush and layer work: Gimp style.
Things are incredibly hectic now, but as always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all on the verge of a great new week. I hope to catch up on viewing and commenting, and posting more, soon.
Oh, and just so you’ll know, my answer is a resounding “Yes,” in terms of whether or not we should focus on space exploration. It’s a goal we may never reach, but the journey to that goal would push humanity—as a species—to invent new ways of living, to learn new things about environmental issues, scientific issues, and social issues, just to name a few. What we stand to actually learn is a benefit in and of itself. After all, we’re humans, and the one thing about humans is: the farther out we look, the farther in we see.
Comments (20)
NefariousDrO
Ooh, this is really cool! I love that planet, the surface somewhat reminds me of Europa. Let me share some links with you, while I'm thinking of it. There's some web-tutorials that taught me alot about making nebulae: I don't know how similar it would be to do this in GIMP, but from what I've seen you should be able to do these kinds of things, but the methods probably differ. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DOTsFAJSoQ Another trick I discovered: to make the lensflare-spikes on my stars I make 3 additional layers, I start out with my scatter of stars, then I duplicate it 3 times each as a separate layer. One I motion-blur about 15-20 pixels up and down, the next I do the same left-right, and the last one I blur alot (usually 1-2 pixel-width gaussian blur) and all three layers are set to a transparency mode in Photoshop called "screen" it shows the light pixels and makes the black ones totally transparent. If there's a way to do that in GIMP then you've got a nifty lensflare effect on your stars. Sorry about the lengthy post, but I wanted to share some ideas. At any rate, I like this picture, and I am interested in your ruminations here. You don't seem to really be taking sides, per se, but you do certainly want to get "out there" don't you? Very cool work.
jmb007
bonne image!
geirla
Great starfield and planet(s)! I vote "yes" to the exploration part, though I guess that's "no" to your original question, not only to keep us alive as a species, but also to discover who we become on a different world...
MrsRatbag
I had no doubt you were a pro-exploration type, Chip; one world, while varied and fascinating as it can be, is nowhere near enough to encompass all the stories in your head. I'm with you, I think we should be reaching out and touching everything that's out there, in a curious and very very respectful manner! And I love that you've given us a picture of a potential target for a journey; well done!
KatesFriend
Regrettably, news commentators (most of whom have no scientific training - especially on outlets like Fox) mistake Earth-mass or Earth-size for 'Earth-like'. And as soon as the switch occurs in the chain of reporting it tends to stick - the story suddenly becomes a whole lot more exciting. Venus can be said to be Earth-mass or Earth-size but it is definitely not Earth-like. Regardless of what they claimed during the Jon Pertwee era of Doctor Who. Venusian Karate indeed! Good old GIMP, my saviour for many a flawed Poser rendering - don't tell anybody. I've not tried to render space art with it and I seem to be missing out on a lot of potential. This is a very compelling piece. The planets look graceful and serene but there is an underlying rugged alien quality to them which would give the timid pause. And not to worry, stars should always seem a little like dust, it makes the perception of the greater cosmos that much bigger in scope - more awesome. For my part, I say yes to exploration. For starters, humanity is capable of doing more than one task at a time. The cosmos can be explored all while we continue to struggle with social and environmental problems here. Space exploration also fosters technological leaps forward that can help resolve some (though certainly not all) of our other problems. I see humanity to be a positive in the broad sense or at least we can be if we simply choose.
jac204
You did some wonderful work with Gimp here, and the subject matter is a timely topic.
jocko500
very wonderful work
beachzz
Not only is this a stunning image, but your narrative is right on. Space is still an unknown frontier and we have so much to learn from everything out there. How can you look up, see the sky, the stars, the planets and not want to just GO and see what's there?
auntietk
Oh, VERY cool! I love your planet, and the light from your unseen sun is outstanding. As for the "should we or shouldn't we" question ... I think we should pursue the course of exploration. I don't think we'll boldly go during MY lifetime (even Zefram Cochrane didn't invent the warp engine until 2063 (tongue firmly in cheek)), but if we are EVER to go, we need to continue being curious in that direction.
durleybeachbum
You are very clever to make this on a computer...I can do it with ACTUAL materials only! A thought provoking read.. I have reservations about the whole thing that I won't bore you with1
helanker
OH Yes, you got a really excellent result here. And I am with you on wether we should or not should Explore the universe. Way too exciting subject.
KateBlack10
Awesome post Chip - love the image and your words. As always they resonant and expand after I finish reading.
kgb224
Outstanding work my frend.
evielouise
I guess were all trying to think of a better place Think I will just stay until my time is up great render don't know much about all the other stuff:
SIGMAWORLD
EXCELLENT!
Orinoor
Fantastic space image, I love how you created the planet with a brick. I think space exploration is absolutely necessary, just as microbiology is necessary (as an example). Whether you are looking through a telescope or a microscope, you can see a lot of similarities, indeed, the expanse of the micron is just as intriguing as the expanse of space. Honestly, I would prefer to stay on this Earth, I kind of like it here!
sandra46
spectacular image!
flavia49
amazing!
danapommet
OK, you created this for a slab of concrete and a brick. Fantastic Chip and as always - wonderful narrative. Dana
minos_6
This is a really nice piece of work, and your words are compelling. I agree that we need to re-focus our space exploration. I'm reminded of the words of Dr Carl Sagan in his book and TV series Cosmos where he says that we are all made of star stuff. Space exploration is the ultimate return to our roots.