International Year of Astronomy

Brian Greene and Dark Skies

"I have long thought that anyone who does not regularly--or ever--gaze up and see the wonder and glory of a dark night sky filled with countless stars loses a sense of their fundamental connectedness to the universe. And as the astounding vastness of the universe becomes obscured, there is a throwback to a vision of a universe that essentially amounts to earth, or one's country, or state or city. Perspective becomes myopic. But a clear night sky and a little instruction allows anyone to soar in mind and imagination to the farthest reaches of an enormous universe in which we are but a speck. And there is nothing more exhilarating and humbling than that."

From Dr. Brian Greene, Columbia University physicist, author of the best selling book, "The Elegant Universe" and one of the most articulate spokespersons for the Superstring Theory of the Cosmos. He shares his view about the importance of perserving our ability to see the night sky with Science@NASA Dark Skies: Scientists and educators explain why they think dark skies are important.