这个博客的目的是保留、记录、致敬对世界的好奇和探索。你我生命有限，无法不朽，从宇宙的尺度看，人类这个物种、地球这颗行星都不会存在太久，可能一个人毕生都不知道自己要去哪儿，但惊异感永不消失。

他说：“天文学其实并不特别重要。”他沉默片刻，欣赏大角星。然后他说：“但它是我们这个物种做的比较重要的事情之一。”他不认为这两句话自相矛盾。他说：“作为天文学家，你很容易产生一切都是徒劳的感觉。非常抱歉，你我活不了太久。连这个物种都不会存在太久。”他轻轻喟叹。“一个人还小的时候，他不会有任何目标感。等你稍微长大一点，会开始有目标感。年轻的科学家，或者说一概而论的年轻人，都特别认真。他们认为他们知道自己要去哪儿。等我们认为其实一切都没那么认真的时候，我们就变成了成年人。”他停顿片刻。“但惊异感永远不会消失。我猜这就是我喜欢这上面的原因。这儿离群星更近70英尺。”

——理查德·普雷斯顿《初光》

“Astronomy is not terribly important,” he said. He fell silent for a moment, admiring Arcturus. Then he said, “Although it is one of the more important things we do as a species.” He did not see any contradiction there. He said, “Being an astronomer, it’s easy to get a sense of futility about it all. I am afraid we don’t live very long. The species won’t live very long, either.” He gave a kind of sigh. “When one is a child, one doesn’t have a sense of purpose—and that, I suppose, is one of the many extremely good things about being a child. You get a little older and you get a sense of purpose. Young scientists, young people in general, are so terribly serious. They think they know where they are going. We become adults when we decide it’s not so serious, after all.” He paused. “But the sense of wonder never goes away. I guess that’s why I like it up here. It’s seventy feet closer to the stars.”

——First Light by Richard Preston