Astronomy.. Is it real ??

[EL PIC]

If study or going to the moon or other improves or extends human life then we should go and continue study. But you need to consider the movie Ad Astra.
In that movie the psychological question is .. why go to other planets and moons searching for life when humans do not appreciate and respect life on earth.
So is astronomy a real human gain or just economical gain .. or is it just an intellectual exercise of the mind ???

 

[Helio]

It's likely that those who are willing to make the trip, given the huge risks, will go in an on-going quest for a better life. The Pilgrims traveled across a vast and dangerous ocean -- and then nearly starved if not for the help from the natives -- with the strict intent to get away from those that oppressed them, which was their religious beliefs primarily.

 

[EL PIC]

It's likely that those who are willing to make the trip, given the huge risks, will go in an on-going quest for a better life. The Pilgrims traveled across a vast and dangerous ocean -- and then nearly starved if not for the help from the natives -- with the strict intent to get away from those that oppressed them, which was their religious beliefs primarily.

Well I don’t think the Space Pioneers will be going for religious freedom.
Earth would have to get thousands of times worst before any other reachable planet could potentially anything better. Maybe Millions …

 

[Catastrophe]

There are no reachable planets capable of sustaining human life.

Cat

 

[FromBelow]

Is it worthwhile for humans to invest a portion of our collective resources in things like amusement parks, movies, and video games?

I'd say yes, and it follows that other things like astronomy and spaceflight are worthwhile as well, for both practical reasons and the sheer joy of learning and discovery. If you aren't growing and enjoying life you're dying.

 

[Catastrophe]

FromBelow,
Planet colonisation is not a walk in the park. Of course, it is desirable on the grounds of survival, but forget terraforming - it is 'not on' - at least as far as our Solar System is concerned.

Like many subjects we see discussed here, the sheer detail and technical effort are completely minimalised. Colonisation may be necessary long term. on the basis of chance. I doubt many of us will be around for the Sun going giant in about 5 billion years, but chance asteroids or comets are definitely (low chance) risks, but still possible.

Astronomy.. Is it real ??

Coming on topic (Have we been there yet?) - astronomy is not planet colonisation. Astronomy is the observation and study of the heavens. And - yes - it is real, and has been for millennia.

Cat

N.B. Colonisation is the setting up of limited habitation, perhaps involving domes and/or other limited structures. Terraforming is converting the whole planet/moon to be habitable, so domes and spacesuits are not necessary.

 

[Phillip Huggan]

Ice moon mines should enable new metal medical equipment on Earth for more people than not. Nature exhibits, rocky/icy hikes, space frisbie and airplane making drone races, ice carving, are all extensions of Earth pleasures; probably 10x as much recreation there. I see automatons being made near Procyon and traded to Earth as giving people a holodeck-like experience of robotic nerf-actors. But it would need to be R+D far from hackers.
All for important people at first and diffusing. Ultimately we can manage maybe a hundred billion people with a couple Oort Clouds. Earth itself maybe 11.5B people healthily. 40 degrees farenheit edible weeds that don't need much watering. That is plant R+D for Mars orbital space and beyond or the biosphere is altered.

 

[Catastrophe]

Ad Astra (film) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Ad_Astra_(film)


Ad Astra (Latin for 'To the Stars') is a 2019 American science fiction film produced, co-written, and directed by James Gray. Starring Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee ...
Budget: $80–100 million
Music by: Max Richter
Production companies: Regency Enterprises; ...‎
Produced by: Brad Pitt; ‎Dede Gardner‎; ‎Jeremy ...‎
‎Plot · ‎Production · ‎Release · ‎Reception


Cat

 

[ecky thump]

For economic gain, the asteroids are the best bet