From the Earth to the Vega
Over 25 light years. This is the distance between the Earth (little planet down left) and the bright star Vega (the bright star in the upper right corner), brightest one of the Lyra constellation. One of the brightest stars in the sky. And this year it’s been exactly 30 years from the moment when Carl Sagan’s famous science fiction novel “Contact” had been released as a book and put on the list of the bestsellers as well. Just 12 years later reputable director Robert Zemeckis filmed Sagan’s story from his original screenplay (which he finished even sooner than the book, in 1979) with Jodie Foster as Ellie Arroway, who travels to the Vega star and much more far from our home after she listens to the signal from aliens with hidden message about how to travel the Universe. Fascinating Sagan’s story shows us even today how genial popularizer of the astronomy and story teller he was. His thoughts were also focused on the mankind, religion, differences in understanding of higher principles, love importance, modesty or human importance in the same moment. The “Contact” novel (and the movie) introduces us so amazing and exciting reality about the cosmological laws and also brings to us one of the most inspirational quotes of the last century: “The universe is a pretty big place. If it’s just us, seems like an awful waste of space.”
And this picture is, actually, tribute to the Sagan’s work on the “Contact” story. In a little planet you can see a cottage and a person in it (it’s me). Out there is just the Universe and the Milky way as a far and seemingly reachless world. But Vega – bright star up in the right corner – doesn’t seem to be that far. It’s closer and a bit isolated as it has the important role in the story and brings the message. Of course, today we know about the other worlds (even if without a life yet) thanks to the 20yrs long era of the seeking new extrasolar planets, but I hope the “Contact” story will amaze people even next decades till, at least, the 100th anniversary of the book. Used Canon 6D IR Baader Mod, Samyang 24 mm, f2.8, ISO 8000, 32×15 s little planet panorama, tripod. Captured on Sec reservoir, Czech Republic, on 12th June 2015.
