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I will agree with what
Paolo Coelho wrote in his book, “the Alchemist”: when you really want
something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish
comes true; especially if the wish maker has an intimate and unique
relationship with the universe and has achieved to unravel some of its
best-kept secrets. Such an achievement seems as secluded as the universe
itself. But that is exactly what Paul Kalas did, an astronomer of Cretan
origins working in the University of Berkeley in California. Kalas made
us proud, as he was the first to detect and obtain visible-light images
of an extra-solar planet with a Hubble Space Telescope, opening a whole
new chapter in the grand and infinite “book of space”.
“For us astronomers, the last time we saw a new planet moving in space
was in 1846, when planet Neptune was discovered. This is a hundred and
sixty two years ago. Thus, you can imagine that the day of this
discovery will be a day to remember”.
Elina Metaxaki |
