Outer Space, via Virtual Reality, in Prospect Park
What do we want from outer space? From here, on Earth, we marvel at its vastness and contemplate its black-and-white wonders. We thrill to the sight of cosmic funny business, such as an eclipse or a shooting star. We imagine going to space, and, perhaps, take solace from knowing that we’ll never have to. It can serve as a physical reminder of the unknowability of existence, the vastness of time and history, the ephemerality of you and me. Art and science that connect us to it—the moon landing, the wowings of Carl Sagan, the rollings of the Mars rover, the Treks, the Wars, Holst’s “The Planets,” David Bowie in general—can be imbued with some of its glory and mystery.