Darryl Mocek

I recently finished reading "Pale Blue Dot : A Vision of the Human Future in Space" by Carl Sagan (OK, so it's been over a month since I finished it and this blog has been sitting in my draft box for about that long). This is actually a follow up to his bestseller "Cosmos", which I haven't read yet. This book was more interesting then I expected. Carl not only discusses the various planets, moons, and other objects floating around in our solar system, but he also discusses humanity in the context of the Universe. He raises an interesting point that the human race *must* venture out into the Universe if it is to survive. Not only because we will have a better chance of survival if we're scattered throughout the Universe, much in the same way we've had a better chance of survival because we've been scattered throughout several continents here on Earth, but because in about 5 billion years, the Sun will expand into a red giant, consuming several of its close planets (including Earth), then die. I venture to guess we'll be roving around in the Universe by that time. He doesn't speculate too much on how we will venture to other solar systems and other galaxies, but he does spend a fair amount of time discussing the prospect of a Mars landing and how it will most likely be a multi-national effort. He also raises interesting points on detection of life on other planets and speculates on how difficult it would be for an alien species to detect life here on Earth today.

I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is that I read it while in a labor and delivery waiting room, waiting for one of my best friends' wife to deliver their first child. It was humbling reading about the fate of humanity while waiting for a life to be born.

By the way, they delivered a healthy baby boy named Tyler.