There are only two topics that I can think about, read about, and talk about these days.
Twitter followers will know that the first one – it’s the Philadelphia Eagles. Â Sorry for my ranty tweets during the game!
The second is SPACE. Â Like my obsession with the Eagles, this obsession is nothing new. Â It really started in middle school and the planetarium we were lucky to have.
A FULL planetarium. Â Think the Hayden’s little sister.
We also lived in a rural suburb of Philadelphia during that time, on a road with no streetlamps and a star-filled night sky. Â To the annoyance of my parents, I spent many evenings and nights sitting on the deck, staring at the sky above and trying (fruitlessly, I may add) to identify constellations.
These days, my planetarium visits are limited to my jaunts to the AMNH and I’m lucky if I spot Venus in the hazy New York night sky.  But I’ve turned to other sources to continue my fascination with the universe we live in.  And they’re awesome.
- NASA on Instagram.  If you do just one thing on the list, DO THIS.  Yes, the images on NASA’s Instagram account are spectacular.  The captions also deserve a commendation, as they beautifully describe just what you’re looking at – solar flares, cloud patterns on Saturn, supernovas.  Double tap to your hearts desire.  Each picture deserves it.
- The Martian, by Andy Weir. Â My poor loved ones. Â I would not relent until they finished reading this book, which I could not stop consuming both in its written and audio form. Â As told by Mark Watney, the stranded astronaut on Mars, the book chronicles his survival and NASA’s furtive efforts to bring him back. Â While the writing is simplistic, the story is incredibly compelling and the detail of space travel is described in a manner that’s both educational and entertaining. Â Here’s hoping the upcoming movie will be just as good.
- COSMOS and Star Talk Radio.  I’ve spoken about both ad nauseum in this post.  Just check BOTH out.  So worth it.
- India’s successful Mars orbit mission.  You can’t write a story like this.  India bootstraps a mission to get a probe into Mars’ orbit, and is successful on their first try.  Did I mention they did it for less than it cost to make Gravity?  And that women made up a significant part of the Mangalyaan team?  AND the NYTimes managed to make an insensitive joke about it?  Bollywood films have had less drama.
- Star Trek.  You know how, in relationships, you do things to make the other person happy?  I started watching Star Trek at my husband’s request. Much to both our surprise, I quickly became addicted.  I reveled in Rodenberry’s idyllic universe where Earth has eliminated all conflict and has prioritized innovation and exploration, where aliens and humans work together in near harmony, and when people leave their shit at the door to get stuff done.  Forget Ayn Rand – I’d happily live in a Roddenberry world, aboard a starship.  Not ready to dive into the series?  The recent movies are also quite good.
I think that’s enough geekery for one day, don’t you? Â I’d love to know – what is one secret geek love you have? Â COMMENT below and let me know!
