Rant: my friend said astro photos are just pretty pictures

Three years ago, I was showing him a shot of the Orion Nebula I took from my backyard in Tucson. He shrugged and said, 'It's just a colorful blob.' Last week, I finally got him to look through my telescope at Jupiter's moons. His whole view changed right then. Now he gets that every photo is a real place, light years away. Anyone else have a friend who just didn't get it until they saw for themselves?

3 comments

3 Comments

jamie_webb675d ago

Remember when he called it a colorful blob? Bet he feels like a real genius now. Goes from "just a picture" to staring at a planet like he's seen a ghost. My buddy did the same thing, then asked if my telescope could see aliens. Yeah man, I keep the little green men filter right next to the moon filter.

bennett.harper5d ago

Wonder if some people just need that physical proof to feel the scale of it. Like a photo is too polished to seem real maybe. I mean, seeing it live through glass makes it hit different.

sage_moore375d ago

Ever have that moment where you realize you were the clueless friend? I used to think the same thing until I saw Saturn's rings for myself. Now I'm the annoying one pointing at every dot in the sky.