Uploaded October 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Many people think of space as empty. But in this month's show we are going to bust that myth, along with some other commonly believed myths about the nature of space and time. In doing so, I also want to explore with you the way that myths wind their way through cultures, and what effect that can have on a society. What is the difference between a myth (like "space is empty"), and pure fiction (like "there are space wizards"), especially in the post-truth era? When is it harmful? What is the difference between "true" and "useful"? And how are people supposed to know what's true anyways? It's a tough problem, and I don't claim to have all the answers. But maybe we can learn something by looking back at the story of how we learned about our place within the cosmos. Because that colors the way you see everything. And as it turns out, space isn't empty after all. Space is Full.
Chris Gilly is an upper year graduate student in the Astronomy department at CU. From designing outreach and afterschool programs for middle schoolers to teaching undergraduate courses, Gilly has spent his time at CU actively engaged in outreach and education. He works at both the planetarium and the observatory on campus, as well as serving as the student representative for two large international conferences, AGU and SHINE. Gilly hopes to graduate in the next two years, and is looking to find a job that allows him to continue his outreach work in addition to his solar physics research.
If you have any additional questions, comments, or want to find out more about upcoming talks, contact us at: scienceunderthedome@colorado.edu
We would like to acknowledge:
University of Colorado Boulder, APS Department
SkySkan Inc. and their amazing software DigitalSky2 that made this possible.
This virtual series made possible with the support from the CU Office of Outreach and Engagement.
Fiske is one of the largest planetariums in the US, having served CU Boulder & the local community since 1975. We offer a diverse range of fulldome films, live talks, laser and liquid sky shows, as well as public gatherings for astronomical and NASA-related events.
Follow Fiske Planetarium:
Website | https://www.colorado.edu/fiske
Instagram | instagram.com/fiskeplanet
Facebook | facebook.com/teamfiske
Many people think of space as empty. But in this month's show we are going to bust that myth, along with some other commonly believed myths about the nature of space and time. In doing so, I also want to explore with you the way that myths wind their way through cultures, and what effect that can have on a society. What is the difference between a myth (like "space is empty"), and pure fiction (like "there are space wizards"), especially in the post-truth era? When is it harmful? What is the difference between "true" and "useful"? And how are people supposed to know what's true anyways? It's a tough problem, and I don't claim to have all the answers. But maybe we can learn something by looking back at the story of how we learned about our place within the cosmos. Because that colors the way you see everything. And as it turns out, space isn't empty after all. Space is Full.
Chris Gilly is an upper year graduate student in the Astronomy department at CU. From designing outreach and afterschool programs for middle schoolers to teaching undergraduate courses, Gilly has spent his time at CU actively engaged in outreach and education. He works at both the planetarium and the observatory on campus, as well as serving as the student representative for two large international conferences, AGU and SHINE. Gilly hopes to graduate in the next two years, and is looking to find a job that allows him to continue his outreach work in addition to his solar physics research.
If you have any additional questions, comments, or want to find out more about upcoming talks, contact us at: scienceunderthedome@colorado.edu
We would like to acknowledge:
University of Colorado Boulder, APS Department
SkySkan Inc. and their amazing software DigitalSky2 that made this possible.
This virtual series made possible with the support from the CU Office of Outreach and Engagement.
Fiske is one of the largest planetariums in the US, having served CU Boulder & the local community since 1975. We offer a diverse range of fulldome films, live talks, laser and liquid sky shows, as well as public gatherings for astronomical and NASA-related events.
Follow Fiske Planetarium:
Website | https://www.colorado.edu/fiske
Instagram | instagram.com/fiskeplanet
Facebook | facebook.com/teamfiske
