NASA recently released a photograph of one of our closest neighboring galaxies, Andromeda. The resulting photo proves to captivate the mind as it displays the sheer magnitude. This is not only in physicality, but also the magnitude of how truly unimaginative it could be for mankind to wholly believe in universal solitude. See below (Advice: watch on the biggest screen you can at the highest resolution you can for best viewing experience):

As is made evident by the video, the photo truly proves to us how small we really are in the known universe. In contest of my previous article, We Stopped Dreaming, I have decided to at least briefly discuss the good that comes out of what NASA, and space agencies around the world, are able to accomplish through the use of modern technology. Take this photo for example; it was taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, an orbiting, mirror lensed telescope capable of viewing comparatively massive quantities of distance into deep space and produce shockingly clear images (such as the recent Andromeda photo with Andromeda being roughly 2.5 million light years from Earth) which have further advanced our understanding of the composition of nearby galaxies, space anomalies, etc. while also obviously providing some wonderful looking photographs which serve to enchant the imagination.

Not only has NASA obviously been providing advancements in our understanding of astronomical sciences on almost a yearly basis, they have been one of the primary facilitators of nearly every major mission to Mars and various other planets in our home system. In fact, over the past two decades NASA has sent a scientific mission to Mars nearly every two years following the discovery of evidence of liquid water on the Red Planet which could eventually prove the existence of life outside the Earth. The further studies of not just Mars, but other natural satellites in the Solar System not only provides invaluable scientific information and data which increase our understanding of our neighboring planets, but also aid in the investigation of ancient life abroad. Why is the study of life so important one may ask? Obviously, humankind has persistently asked the question of whether or not we are alone in the universe, but what about from a scientific standpoint? The discovery of ancient life, no matter how small or perceivably insignificant, would answer this age-old question while at the same time providing a very important catalyst towards manned exploration of the stars and potentially future attempts at colonization away from our 4.5 billion year old home.

Through basic research, it is inherently evident that with prioritized funding, NASA and other space agencies around the globe could inevitably accomplish these future missions and allow mankind to once again take further steps (quite literally) into the unknown masses of space. Where could we be in 20 years with prioritized funding of scientific space studies? What about 50 years? 100 years? While many have undoubtedly allowed their dreams of the stars to lay dormant, I consistently dream that one day mankind will be able to once again take our first steps among the stars to the point of maybe, just maybe, being able to call another planet home in the future. In closing, I will provide a second video which beautifully sums up the simple fact that...

Not all of us have ceased to dream.