no human has 'actually' looked through the telescope in ages- we use cameras and electronics to take pictures... I have heard of a long ago open house where the telescope was used to project images on a screen...

There is no eye piece to put your eye to...

You do have a point though, maybe that would make a difference- we try to be very open with our discoveries, but a lot of the things we see cannot be discussed openly until the astronomers using the telescope release their papers.

There is no arguing that technology has allowed us to gain information that was impossible a few years ago, but it is true that nothing stirs the soul more than to have the actual photons tickle your retina....

Keck is holding an open house for the Deep Impact mission, people will want to watch... I think many will be disappointed- The fact is a LOT of real science is boring if you dont know the facts behind it....

You and I may not be able to believe that someone could look through a telescope at distant objects and not feel something deep in their soul... but unfortunately there is a LOT of soulless people....

When we observe the galactic center I know that we are looking at photons that were created when my ancestors were living in caves and trying to master the cutting edge technology of fire... and in 10's of thousands of years the photons of 'my' laser will change the motion of a few atoms at the center of the galaxy... Pretty much everything we do today would be considered godlike power to our ancestors a mere 200 years ago...

IF there is a supreme being, I think the most honest and sincere form of worship is to spend your life studying creation... but even if there isnt a 'God', the challenge of trying to understand the universe is so fun and rewarding that I cant imagine doing anything else....

Can you teach such passion? I doubt it... but I think you can stimulate that passion by teaching the facts. The universe is full of mysteries.... that is why I have such a problem with people that invent mysteries and conspiracies to make their lives more interesting- WHY do that when reality is so damn amazing?!!!