Monday, August 6, 2012

'Curiosity'....... killed the cat.

Preamble.

"Mars is in the 7th house and it's in retrograde. Hence, this is not the ideal time for the marriage of your daughter. The other factor is that if it doesn't take place within this year, she'd have a late marriage!"

"Mars is following Venus and it's in the fourth house. This is the right time for your boy to get married. Planetary positioning cannot be better".

"Chovva dosham".............."Mangalik"...............O! The cussedness!

I've just given two fictitious astrological predictions, hastily concocted from my imagination. And no, they don't mean a thing either! But similar predictions have baffled and upset parents in the past, continue to upset many now and will do so in the future thanks to man's faith in astrology. Mind you, astrology has a strong scientific foundation backed by mathematical calculations and hence, his belief in it is not unfounded.


The past.

Thanks to astrology, the common man has heard a lot about the planet Mars and has varying perceptions about the planet's influence on his/her life. It's that myth/haloed status of the red planet that is being validated by the landing of the spacecraft, 'Curiosity' on it today after having traversed a distance of 56.7 crore kms over 255 days(The rocket carrying the spacecraft, resembling a small car, had lifted off from Cape Canaveral, USA on 26 Nov 2011). It's the triumph of science and robotics, in particular!


The present.

Over the coming months, Curiosity is going to travel extensively over the surface of the planet beaming back important information that should help mankind in taking major decisions regarding the planet's inclusion in our lives. Till now, we've been familiar with the green coloured(wonder why this colour was always associated) Martian with a short, single antenna sticking out from what's supposed to be its head - curious about us human beings - from the numerous comics that we've browsed!

And suddenly, Mars appears to be right at our backyard!!


The future.

.....Man sets up the first colony on Mars. The 'Earth - Mars' shuttle is always over subscribed but the duration of journey has been greatly compressed through space capsules hurtling beyond unimaginable speeds, perhaps even breaking the 'light barrier' - if I were to be permitted to express my wild and unbridled ideas!


Tailpiece.

We're witness to really interesting times. Cheers to science! And special cheers to man's continuing thirst for knowledge!!

PS.

I'm reminded of what Rudyard Kipling had said and I quote,
   
      "Some men see things as they are and say, why
        I dream things that never were and say, why not".

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