Opus Magnanimous. History of the Cosmos in MUSIC

The gods of Ancient Mesopotamia and their associated planets are introduced. We discuss the difference between 'pure science' and 'vernacular science'. We meet Ed Dwight, the first black NASA astronaut and discover his struggles with Chuck Yaeger, then experience a bit of the controversy about Jim Webb, NASA administrator, for whom the Space Telescope was renamed, despite his alleged homophobia and the fact that JWST had the most bloated budget of any project of its type.

Articles referenced include: https://www.dw.com/en/james-webb-how-a-space-telescope-tore-american-scientists-apart/a-60216754

NPR Radio Diaries https://www.npr.org/2022/07/05/1109678316/edward-dwight-space-race-nasa-astronaut-moon

as usual, thanks to all the contributors at Wikipedia.

NASA https://mobile.arc.nasa.gov/public/iexplore/missions/pages/95.htm

ESA

https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/SpaceTransportation/Launchvehicles/Ariane5_ECA

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-ancient-babylonian-map-of-jupiter-just-changed-history-as-we-know-it

https://www.livescience.com/james-webb-space-telescope

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/groups-organizations-african-american-history/kool-and-gang-1964/

Astronomers & Cosmologists & Physicists are all working to figure out how our universe was created and how it all works. Episode 1 introduces us to the earliest recorded thinking about the stars and the universe by ancient peoples of Mesopotamia. We talk a little about the Event Horizon Telescope and the imaging of black holes for the first time in human history. I've also explained how Opus Magnanimous episodes will be structured, and we hear some excerpts from the music inspired by the topics we've covered, including a little about the people who have made and continue to make discoveries & theories about the universe.