photon dafremen It's been many years since I owned a telescope and looked at Saturn. For those of you who haven't ever seen it, except on a screen or in a picture, I highly recommend that you do. This is not a simple request for sightseeing. No, this is a suggestion that may lead you to a very interesting observation. It may just change the way you see everything. At least that's what it did for me. You see, it's all about the photons, my friend. The photons are a connection between the observer and the observed. A very tangible connection provided via light that began in the heart of the Sun and traveled through our solar system to reach Saturn, then bounced back and hit our retinas. The trip is mind boggling. Dune fans out there will hopefully recognize the dilemma of these photon space travelers as being similar to that of the Navigators from the Spacing Guild: How to navigate through space without hitting anything? That was the plight of many of the photons, they did not make it to Saturn. They may have ended up illuminating a random asteroid, Mars or one the moons of Jupiter. They may have reflected into some shadow place, never to be seen again. Some ALMOST made it, bouncing off of the rocks and dust which form Saturn's rings before heading to my eye. But eventually, some DID make it to the ringed planet's atmosphere and were reflected back my way. It's a spectacular work of destiny if you think about it, random or not. Only a few chosen photons out of the many, destined from an observer's pupil from the Sun, by way of Saturn. With the telescope, maybe a few more. But what about a picture of Saturn? Isn't that the same thing? (I know, right?) They're so much more detailed when taken from a rover, a probe or a satellite. And on the big screen?! Fahgedaboutit. But then what about the photons? Is it the same? Generated by some human-devised gadget cranking out processed photons from a 50/60hz source, be it a light bulb or a a screen. There is no fantastic journey. (Unless you consider the processing of fossil fuels to electrons to photons. Also an incredible journey through time and space for the mind, but decidedly less satisfying to the soul.) That's the difference. There is only the illusion of a journey. No real witnessing. No real knowing. And when I looked through that telescope at Saturn, it didn't matter how many times I'd seen it in TV shows, pictures and on the posters hanging on the wall of my room as a kid. That tiny little yellow speck in a 4" Newtonian was far superior to any image and has stayed with me to this day. Witnessing is about connection, not just data and knowledge. And it's all about the photons, man. 221027 ... grammar nazi Only a few chosen photons from the Sun out of the many, destined for an observer's pupil, by way of Saturn. 221027 ... ego hum thank you 221028 ... ego hum I didn't mean the nazi, thanks Daf 221028 ... ego hum But... I'm sure the nazi can also reveal 221028 ... ego hum things 221028 ... grammar commie Together we will reconstruct the sentence and bask in the glory of the People's achievement! Or perhaps you would prefer re-education, comrade? 221029 what's it to you? who go blather from