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Stargazing on "Star Gaze": A selection of Hubble's best imagery.

How many of us like to look at stars?  Okay, I know it's a dumb question, but
the NASA fairy has blessed us with one of the most spectacular star-viewing
tools ever: the Hubble.  Now, the greatest hits of that venerated viewing
apparatus can be found on the dvd: "Star Gaze." 

      As a visual tour of Hubble's photography portfolio, "Star Gaze" is pretty
cool. (Let's face it: Hubble has taken so many awesome photos that if NASA were
to put them all on dvd, the show would be six hours long.) However, as a visual
representation of the intricate beauty of the cosmos, "Star Gaze" is one of the
best I've seen.  The dvd is simply bristling with over one hour of glorious
views of our universe.  From the sparkling pinwheels of light we call galaxies
to the intense, savage beauty of a churning nebula, "Star Gaze" has it all: and
in VIVID color.  Indeed, the colors are perhaps the most fabulous part of the
movie.  In my opinion, the colors work in conjunction with the gorgeous
soundtrack to take the viewer on an emotional journey as well as a visual; some
causing excitement and elation, while others with their undulating mist-like
swirls and delicate pastels soothe the viewer: each image perfectly in tune with
its corresponding key, note and instrument.

     If one could ever see a definite correlation between science and art; it
would be in the beauty of the cosmos.  There is a lyrical beauty in the
twinkling, crystalline shape of the Cartwheel galaxy: its many spires dancing
around a dazzling hub.  The clusters of stars which shine with the light of
heaven induce the viewer into imagining a flawless, perfectly cut mass of
diamonds.  The charged, intense, electric colors of the nebulae; combined with
their swirling, drifting shapes are remeniscent of something by Marcel Duchamp;
while others still are violent: putting one in the mind of a DeKooning or a
Jackson Pollock. 

      "Star Gaze" winds down with several intriguing views of the planets.  The
first is a view of the Martian surface.  Mars spins around on its axis and shows
us its various seas, (the dark brown splotches like Gorbachev's birthmarks,) and
mountain ranges, including the poles.  Then, there's Jupiter.  These images are
some of the most striking I've ever seen.  The turbulent atmosphere with its
great Red Spot are so clear and gorgeous that they are not to be believed.
There is even a still of Jupiter showing the scars left behind by the comet
Schumaker-Levy 9.  The computer-generated orrery of Uranus and its satellites
was a real treat.  (That planet is just really cool.) Neptune and its dizzying
atmosphere are next, and finally, the terminus of the show is a pair of views of
Pluto.

      All in all, "Star Gaze" is an excellent dvd.  I watched it twice and I'm
going to watch it again, darn it.  When I relinquish custody of it at the next
meeting, "Star Gaze" will be available for check-out by the members of Sirius
Stargazers.  If you like stargazing, I HIGHLY recommend that you view this
movie.  You'll be glad you did.  Or else...

coming soon: the IMAX "Blue Planet"
 

Suzanne