Another Way of Seeing 2013

ANOTHER WAY OF SEEING 2013 MAIN IMAGE.jpg

When looking at the night sky the naked eye is capable of seeing the Earth’s moon, several planets and comets in our solar system, stars of sufficient magnitude, our own galaxy and a few more distant star clusters and galaxies depending on visual acuity and observational conditions. With the aid of optical and radio telescopes we are able to see structures in our Universe dating from the earliest period of star and galaxy formation. Most recently the passage of light from particular stars has been used to observe the atmosphere of planets within those stars systems.

This artwork celebrates the potential for discovery that observation of the visible universe offers us presented in 2 related parts: a linear laser light projection in the University College London (UCL) North Cloister and the point laser projection into the cupola of the dome above the Library (visible from beneath the sculpture and at Library level). 

The point projection suggests the location of a star upon the curved interior of the highest point in the main building of University College London. Just as we measure the light we receive so we can also project light into space, the laser being a particular artificial light source of great intensity used in atmospheric and planetary observation.

Equipment: Green 532nM lasers