Are you one of those amateur astronomers who sees references to space or astronomy in the movies and either wants to capture the moment because you loved it or or can’t stand it because of inaccuracies? The editors of Astronomy want to know your favorite (or least favorite) moments in astronomy in the movies.
As an example, I’ll provide a dramatic moment from a 1930s classic. Everyone knows the legendary Gone with the Wind, starring Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh in the Civil War classic about survival and renewal “as the old South died one night.” Although astronomy didn’t play a significant role in the downfall of the Confederacy, it did provide a dramatic and pivotal moment in the eyes of director Victor Fleming. As Leigh’s character, Scarlett O’Hara, returns home to war-ravaged Tara, she longs with her last energies to see whether the family estate has survived Sherman’s March. The cloudy, dark, dull night doesn’t afford her a view until a hole opens in the clouds, exposing the Moon, which reveals the house standing. This dramatic moment provides a turning point in the story, nicely created by the screenwriters.
Do you have other great cinematic moments you wish to share that involve the heavens? Let us know. We’ll be listening. Please comment below or e-mail me at editor@astronomy.com with anything you’d like to say.