another great talk

Last night I saw another great lecture, by Neil deGrasse Tyson.  It is written up in this Capital times article.  I think it was the best lecture I've ever heard and one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.  He ran over for maybe an hour, and then spend another 30 minutes answering questions.  We got there early to get a good seat, so I sat in that seat for 3 hours, from 7-10 pm.  I was spellbound and could have sat there for another 3 hours if he had kept talking.   He talked about the need for scientific literacy and  why we need to inspire people to go into science, and why science is worth pursuing.  (Now I'm feeling guilty for jokingly referring to various gods and goddesses on my daily bike ride).  He talked about a lot of other things too.  He made the periodic table of elements interesting.  He is the most talented speaker I have ever heard.  And he seemed to so want to be there with us.  He didn't want to stop talking and he didn't want to stop answering questions.  I will have to buy his books and see if they are as anywhere as good--I'm hopeful they are.  And I'll have to start watching his programs, like NOVA ScienceNow.   

Tyson is an astrophysicist, as am I (but I call myself an astronomer because it has a long history I like to associate myself with).  I sat with some other astronomers and non-scientists.  I think the non-scientists liked it better than the professional scientists but I'm not sure.  Some of the astronomers said it was entertaining but they didn't seem as excited.  I'm sure part of why I enjoyed it was that it was a celebration of what I do.  That's a nice feeling to know you work on something that inspires and excites other people.  I also enjoyed learning from a great performer.  I could never give his talk or be like him.  It just reinforces that I can only give a talk that comes from me.  So it reinforces that I don't want to copy what others do and copy their material, but speak from my own heart, like he did.

During the introduction, a physics professor (Peter Timbe) recited a quote by Carl Sagan which was wonderful.  It was an exerpt from his book "Pale Blue Dot", inspired by an image taken by Voyager 1 of the earth as it was leaving our solar system in 1990.  Here is the quote and here is a video with Sagan speaking it.   

I almost didn't go to this talk because I was too busy with work.  I'm glad I shirked my duties.

I wonder if this counts as a peak experience, entertainment, and/or spiritual.  I think it was some of all three.