There is a very obscure relationship between the picture of Knowlton Church and the subject of todays post.
Recently, I wrote about being very excited at the prospect of starting to read Hubble Vision (2nd Ed, 1998). I was on page 51 and was reading about Hubble’s vision of Saturn, when I came to a sudden stop. That is because I read about the Cassini mission in the book. The book was published in 1998. Cassini, at the time of the book was in transit and due to arrive at Saturn in 2004. Seven years after the book was published.
Here I am, in 2020 reading the book which is not only omitting the thirteen years of service that Cassini gave (10 years more than the three planned), but three years after the probe met its fiery demise in the atmosphere of the planet it had been exploring.
Now, I don’t mind reading old books. Indeed, most of the books I read are old. I think this is the first time I have encountered a situation where a book is so blatantly obsolete that I’m no longer prepared to read it. Sad, because I had been looking forward to reading it. I do though have a replacement planned. I’ve ditched Hubble Visions, and am now reading what was to be my next book; the history of art. I can’t help wondering how much our knowledge of ancient Egyptian and Greek art has been augmented in the last twenty five years. I suspect not enough to put me off reading this one.
I have another more recent book about Hubble lined up for Christmas. I may look for a book that covers the more recent research about the solar system in general.
The link between the church and the book? They are both old. Bit like me really.
