Week 9: Space & Art

I have always found space very interesting, so I was very excited to learn about space and art. It is very obvious that the knowns and unknowns of space contribute to the creation of art, as this can be seen in popular media, such as sci-fi movies. 

An example of science fiction using space (Image 1)

Additionally, the use of art can be seen in the representation of the knowledge that we have about space. These models have been created for several centuries, and have changed over time as we have gained more knowledge. For example, Copernicus created the first heliocentric model of the solar system, with the Sun in the center and planets orbiting around the Sun. This allowed people to see how the solar system functioned. Overtime, we have created much more advanced and accurate models, which included things like ellipses and accurate distances from the Sun. 

Copernicus’ model of the solar system (Image 2)

Additionally, scientists and astronomers can use art to demonstrate how planets, the solar system, and the universe may have changed over time. Since we have just recently discovered a way to photograph various objects in space, we do not have images of how planets and other objects used to look. Therefore, we must rely on models created through art to demonstrate how space used to look. 

A model created to demonstrate how Venus may have looked in the past (Image 3)

Not only does space influence art by allowing us to be creative with the unknowns of space, but space also relies on art to create models based on what we do know. Therefore, success in art and space are often reliant on each other because art often involves creativity about space and space often involves models and diagrams created through art.

Works Cited

“Coded Utopia.” WordPress, https://brianholmes.wordpress.com/2007/03/27/coded-utopia/. Accessed 30 May 2024.

“Core Capability 1 - Planet Modeling.” NASA, 3 August 2023, https://www.nasa.gov/core-capability-1-planet-modeling/. Accessed 30 May 2024.

“The Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group.” Leonardo Space Art Project, https://spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html. Accessed 30 May 2024.

“Powers of Ten™ (1977).” YouTube, 27 August 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0. Accessed 30 May 2024.

Vesna, Victoria. “8 space pt 1.” YouTube, 29 July 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZIqTR332l8. Accessed 30 May 2024.

Vesna, Victoria. “8 space pt 2.” YouTube, 29 July 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLZMDpoP-   u0. Accessed 30 May 2024.

Image Citations

Boyle, Alan. “Climate models suggest Venus was habitable.” GeekWire, 11 August 2016, https://www.geekwire.com/2016/nasa-climate-models-venus-habitable/. Accessed 30 May 2024.

“The Copernican Model: A Sun-Centered Solar System.” Department of Physics and Astronomy : University of Rochester, https://www.pas.rochester.edu/~blackman/ast104/copernican9.html. Accessed 30 May 2024.

“The Symbiosis between Science Fiction and Space Innovation.” LinkedIn, 23 June 2021, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/symbiosis-between-science-fiction-space-innovation-trabelsi-loeb. Accessed 30 May 2024.