Astronomy occupies a privileged position among the sciences, as that most closely aligned with the arts and humanities. The stars, and our place among them, have always provoked the interest of artists. There are more poems written about astronomical topics than about geology; there are more songs incorporating astronomical motifs than chemical motifs; there is more fiction written about astronomy than physics.

You task is to explore the interplay of astronomy and culture. Do one of the following:

• Write a poem or short story about one of the astronomical images or themes we have discussed in class.
• Find a poem or short story with an astronomical theme. Write an essay describing how/why it uses astronomy. If the science is inaccurate (as is often the case), show what is incorrect. Is scientific accuracy important to the work? Please provide all sources, and a copy of the work if obscure.
• Write an essay about a real astronomer, living or dead. Do not provide a litany of his or her accomplishments, but rather discuss the affect their work had their culture.
• Find a painting on an astronomical theme. Describe the work. How does it affect you? Is the painting scientifically accurate (within reason)? If not, what is wrong? Does it matter?
• Write an essay discussing how astronomy and astronomical themes are present in present-day culture. Provide concrete examples. How might our culture be different if we were unaware of the stars and planets?

The length of your essay should be appropriate to the subject. It should probably not be less than one page in length (although one exceedingly well written paragraph may suffice). More than ten pages probably means that you are substituting quantity for quality. Grading will be based on clarity of thought, scientific and literary insights, creativity, and on grammar, spelling, and punctuation.