"The whole universe can fit in my head" - an interview with an astronomer and popularizer of science Dmitry Wiebe

"In the early years of my career, I would hardly be distinguished from Jupiter Venus"

- Dmitry, at what point did you realize that you're interested in studying the stars and outer space - to engage in astronomy?

- From the age of two years of leisure, I always spent in Kourovka Astronomical Observatory named after K. BUT. Barkhatova. It worked for my aunt Olga Pylskaya, so almost from infancy, I have often been there. It is difficult to fix a time when I was born into a special interest in astronomy. I think I was indoctrinated (uncritically appropriated the ideas of others - approx. Ed.) It from birth, so he could not even think about another career.

Many novice astronomers are disappointed when they find out that it is not always communicate with telescopes and admiration the stars. To a much greater degree of astronomy - a routine work with catalogs and literature. I knew from the start that astronomy it represents, and I liked its specificity. In childhood I liked to portray the scientist: saw pictures, sat out for special devices and simulated research, drew pictures and clips made of these books. Astronomical toy for a small child were rather peculiar, but on the other hand, they prepared me for the real work in the profession.

- So you do not want at least sometimes to look at the sky and just enjoy its beauty?

- I walked scientific way. Of course, I had a craving for that to have your own telescope, but it's more like a child's desire to get a new toy. When he appeared, I have not looked too much into it. I will say more, I even made his own telescope of the spectacle glasses, but the process was too important to me than the result: at the sky through it, I almost did not watch.

To be honest, in the early years of my career, I would hardly be distinguished from Venus, Jupiter. Interest in the study of the visual space of heaven appeared much later, when I had already emerged as a researcher. From that moment on, I did not only demonstrate to the starry sky professional interest, but also to admire it as an art object.

- Not all children are drawn to science as much as you. Why do you want to become a scientist?

- Very important role played by the atmosphere of the observatory. This secluded playground in the woods, where you can pick mushrooms and herbs, and then brew a delicious tea. We will definitely catch fish in the middle of the Ural rocks, and in addition could use professional telescopes. Unlike normal that with their help, take pictures, and do not look in the eye of the device. Vision a person is not fit for professional, so astronomers have long used tools for radiation detection celestial objects in a persistent storage. I knew about it, so the desire to watch the stars through a telescope I did not have, but do science in such an atmosphere - quite.

- After school you are enrolled in the Ural University, at the department of astronomy and geodesy. It was the only option after so many trips to the observatory?

- In addition to astronomy, were other hobbies, so I can not say that it is - the only one. In high school I went to radiocircle, so imagine what side to take up the soldering iron and what to do with it. It is important that school time is not particularly aunt pushed me to go after him. I considered the Radio Engineering Faculty and Department of Physics, but when he came to do, it is still said that you should choose astronomy. However, I do not doubt it. At heart, I felt that despite the abundance of different options for the right one anyway.

- Who decided to choose a lucrative profession, but astronomy is objectively difficult to carry this. Friends and parents are advised not to go to study to be an economist to count the money, not the stars?

- I entered the university in 1985. I can not say that at that time astronomy was absolutely unprofitable. Of course, this does not trade in the market, but also hungry, scientists at that time did not go exactly. I looked at my aunt and saw that the person has career prospectsAnd this growth brings, including financial benefits - it is worth at the time. With all of this astronomy really terribly interesting profession.

- which seems to have a special interest in astronomy?

- I liked the process so much that the result is not at all interested. Sufficient incentive was the idea that I can sit down and work with the stars. I never thought that now make great discoveries. Astronomy - simply physiologically pleasant experience.

Here is a statement that belongs to Richard Feynman: "Therefore it is said that science denies beauty of the stars, leaving them just gas atomic balls. It's not easy. I am also able to see the stars in the desert night, and feel them. But the less I see in this, or more? "Imagine that you are standing under the stars, and not just admiring the bluish-white dots, and know that one star closer or hot, and one or more colder. My view is not limited to the closest celestial objects.

The whole universe can fit in my head, so I can see farther than others, and to see it in its entirety. It is a wonderful feeling.

- How profitable and promising to engage in astronomy right now?

- I can hardly be called an unequivocal amount because a significant portion of wages up premiums for published articles or grants. This year you can swim in money, and the next not get timely answers from reviewers and twist the hole in the belt. When everything is, you live quite well, but if with grants and articles not specified, remember barefoot childhood. The main problem is not the amount, but its instability. If you want a lot of money, it is better not to go into this profession.

- And if you just like to study astronomy?

- In that case, of course, yes. I repeat the words of his aunt, who said that astronomy - it is terribly interesting. In addition, the pocket is sometimes empty, sometimes a lot. If properly deal with the case, you do not have to eat dry crusts. It is only necessary to keep in mind, that astronomy - is not admiring the stars through a telescope. We have to teach physics, Mathematics, chemistry, and English programming. If you are aware of these features and find a good scientific advisor, you can make a pretty interesting life.

- Where to start your way into this profession?

- The most direct way - walk astronomical organizations that are completely open for this. For example, the Institute of Astronomy RAS organizes special days for students of Moscow State University, where we tell than we can deal with and with whom to collaborate. If the desire is there, the easiest way to arrange a visit to your nearest astronomical institutions. You can read books, but it's theoretical training. It is important to see what happens in reality: come, see, talk to people.

The phrase "I want to do astronomy," about anything. It is necessary to assess in advance, where you will have the opportunity to work with technology and computers, and where to observe and build theoretical models. From room to room type of activity can vary greatly.

"People do not understand how science works"

- In secondary schools for a long time did not teach astronomy. Do you think that this omission?

- Astronomy returned to the school curriculum, but as well - is unclear. the subject was formerly optional, but it is not prohibited. If the school was working teacher-enthusiastHe taught astronomy, and if not, astronomy did not appear today. Despite the decree, astronomy actually exists not in every school, but I want her to be present everywhere in the program.

The observatory and my lectures often come guys worldview which is not something that the universe does not contain and does not even reach the moon. Periodically, I ask the students of MSU, what is connected with the change of lunar phases, but do not get the right answers almost never. They did not even try to think about why we sometimes see the moon crescent, and sometimes - the ball. Ignorance opens the door for a variety of speculation, which we see in abundance on the Internet. Representative examples - in 2012, when it is fairly clever and educated people seriously feared the end of the world predicted by the ancient Maya, because absolutely no idea how the world works.

Another alarming point is that astronomy in the program have returned and there are no teachers. As a rule, the subject teaches anyone, because in school life heavy and time to think about the quality of education is not enough. It is important to only tick that astronomy lesson conducted and what it said - is unclear.

- What are astronomical misconceptions people encounter most often?

- For example, the idea that the solar system is, unknown to us planetThat fly - and we all die. According to assumptions, they are in very elongated orbits, so get to us once in a thousand years and lead to devastating floods and earthquakes. This is not true because there is a force that can not be hidden - gravity.

If the solar system has a body capable of penetrating it in the central area or are already there, it will be manifested through the gravitational effects on other known planets. If by some miracle a celestial body appears, it destroys their gravity stability of the solar system and there will be a global restructuring. The impact is not limited to earthquakes and floods on Earth - the consequences will be much more serious. We do not see them and are still alive, so it spans such was not. Gravity - this is no joke.

Some believe that the right of the summer sun planet, which we do not see, but it's quite easy to refute. Enough to realize that the entire solar system space flying devices with cameras, so will hide a planet not of the sun.

- And what about the solar flares?

- It's a little more serious thing. Recently, thanks to the space telescope "Kepler" have the opportunity to watch a huge number of stars similar to the sun. Some of them are found very strong flash that an order of magnitude superior to anything we have seen 150 years on The sun. This term is negligible in terms of its life, so that it can be assumed that similar outbreaks in the future may occur, but there is a catch.

If the Sun long ago there was a powerful explosion, we would see traces of it in the chronicles. we see that the flares were slices of old trees, and perhaps quite strong, but none of them led to the events that people have decided to write. Finally, the possibility of a solar flare can not be excluded, but it is likely, from this side, we are in no danger. At least, we have carefully follows the sun, so that the event does not happen all of a sudden. There are preconditions that we have advance notice.

Still there is the assumption of a supernova explosion. Such events do exist. They are powerful and are accompanied by the release of large amounts of energy in various forms. Calculations show that if the supernova will occur a short distance from the solar system, then it can have a devastating effect on us. However, you are not near a star, that could explode as a supernova. We are located in a safe area of ​​the Galaxy, and even a few million years can sleep peacefully.

- What was your latest research?

- This is a problem related to the evolution of the molecular composition of protoplanetary disks. We know that the solar system originated from a disk of gas and dust about 4.5 billion years ago. Some processes in it led to our appearance. Man - the result of the evolution of a certain amount of interstellar matter, which is concentrated, and then turned into stars and planets.

We can not see how this is happening in the solar system, because it's been a very long time, but thanks to the development of observational techniques have the ability to monitor other systems where the process goes straight now. Maybe he does not run quite as in the solar system, but still a chance to watch, we have the formation of planetary systems. First discovered the opportunity to understand what processes led to the emergence biosphere Earth. We become aware of how the planet formed and accumulated organic compounds, which are then pushed our appearance.

- Why did you decide to do science not just in his own office, but also a ride with lectures on the country?

- I do not mind, I am the light of knowledge. To a large extent I am speaking for myself. Sometimes, I have a desire to understand the particular issue, but need an incentive. Then I promise to someone to give a lecture on the subject to other alternative, but to understand it, it was not simple. Presentations help systematize knowledge and arrange them logically. Besides, I just like to give lectures.

I have no purpose to take the role of the teacher and the load of all knowledge. Feeling more like the actor's.

It is important to win the audience, because she does not always agree with what you say, and it's wonderful. Psychologically speaking - this is powerful activity.

- What is the lecture is the most popular?

- On the methods of astronomy. I think it is quite boring, but at the same time is very important. When scientist says that now the star is located 500 light-years away and 100 million years it will become a white dwarf, many people think that he bears some nonsense. Just point in the sky, on which people looked at it and decided that it would be over 100 million years? That is why it is important to tell how the knowledge was obtained. Need to show that every judgment - is the fruit of a complex search. It is not a dream astronomer, and was the result of extensive research with a bunch of mistakes and dead-end branches.

Mail packs institutions receive letters with alternative scientific theories. Send us your own views on the evolution of the universe, the stars and the solar system. To tell the sender that he come not at his job, it becomes very difficult and sometimes even impossible. Many are of the scientist as someone who sits in a chair, comes up with something and writes on a piece of paper. The problem is that people do not understand how science works. That is why I decided to talk not only about what we know about the universe, but also about how we have come to this. It's hard, tedious, laborious work, in which far more disappointments than successes and insights.

"Many people want to shift the blame from himself to Jupiter and Saturn"

- The Instagram is now some kind of boom astrologers who predict the future location of the stars and planets and explain the behavior of people on the natal chart. All of this has anything to do with reality, or Jupiter Saturn does not affect our destiny?

- I have no prejudice against astrology, but it is important to understand that this folklore and show business, not a science. If people enjoy reading and natal chart horoscopes in the newspapers, there is nothing we can do. Many people want to shift the blame from himself to Jupiter and Saturn, but the scientific basis for it is not.

Science - is not just clever words written on a piece of paper or uttered, a special way of producing and testing. Several times I was faced with astrologers and asked the same question: "What percentage of the skill of your predictions?" I did not get answers because they are not interested. They make predictions and check to see if they come true.

Astrologers say: "The change of the Cabinet of Ministers will take place within 10 years." I ask: "What country?", But they do not answer, because it allegedly did not forecast indicates.

We live in a turbulent world, so that in 10 years somewhere exactly replaced by the Cabinet. Then they will poke it with your finger and say that the prediction came true.

Another misconception that is common among sensible people if astrological predictions come true, then this is something there. This does not mean absolutely nothing. Even if in astrology there is no rational basis, half of all projections must still come to pass and they can not be waved as a proof of the validity of astrology. If that has any forecast does not come true, will have to look at it the astrologer will in the world. This will mean that astrology is rational, but he uses them incorrectly.

- Many people believe that a person's character depends on the sign of the Zodiac: Aries terribly stubborn, and Libra tend to evaluate everything. What do you think about it?

- It works the same psychological principle. You meet a person who is prone to assess everything, and learn that it is Libra. It is imprinted in the memory, but you do not notice that there are many people with the same feature characterAlthough they are another sign of the zodiac.

All the facts that do not fit your idea, simply ignored. Is there an easy way to check this: Think of any number, such as 18. From now on you will quickly discover that it was to come across you more often than usual. It will feel that it is allocated among other numbers, but nothing like this - it's psychology.

- Why do people believe in horoscopes?

- It is necessary to understand what the meaning is embedded in the concept of "trust". The fact that a person with interest reads the horoscope in the newspaper - this one. If he begins to adjust his life in accordance with this prediction - more. If, according to the sign, the next week I need to pay more attention to money, then this may be of litter? Unlikely. It is unclear what this means and what conclusions I should draw from this prediction. If horoscope "Today is better to devote to communicate with a loved one," that I am canceling business trip and going to communicate with him? How many people actually do so? Interest and faith - two different things.

People want to get rid of responsibility, so go to fortune-tellers, astrologers and read horoscopes. The easiest way to tell that my future is dictated by the stars, so I can not do anything by himself.

Medieval astrologers without reason said that the star point, but do not dictate.

- In the past, people believed that the earth - is a disk that is on elephants, and they, in turn, on a giant turtle. Now much it has become clear, but what is the probability that some of our beliefs about the cosmos and its facilities are still wrong?

- Science never says anything exactly because it is behind the story, in which a plurality of concepts have been revised. We are talking only about the description of the world, and those parts that are now well developed and are unlikely to change dramatically. They can be updated and supplemented, but the Earth will always rotate around the sun.

Most likely, we expect significant additions related to evolution The universe as a whole, because it is very difficult to study the object. We are not very far advanced in this matter, so we can be faced with surprises. If we talk about the local neighborhood, the macrocosm everything is likely to remain unchanged. Projected advances in the study of elementary particle of the world, but it is not astronomy.

There are many important questions that still remain unanswered. One of them - our existence. Habitable planet in the universe only one or more of them? Can we formulate the conditions necessary for the emergence of life? While it's impossible.

- How often do you meet with the advocates of the flat Earth? What do you think about this?

- I have not had to deal with a particularly hard-nosed people in this matter. Strange characters always exist, and there is nothing we can do. But there is another dangerous trend. This issue covers the ordinary people who assign to one side, and yet through the laughter, but asked: "Do you know, now here say that the earth is flat. Is that so? "

In humans, limited outlook not even the Moon and one of the Russian Federation area. On this basis, his head slowly, you can implement the judgment of the flat earth. He mentally prepared to accept this information and live with us.

Thousands of years of evolution and development of science, space exploration achievements - all gone in the sand.

This is not exactly my idea, but people are dissatisfied with science. In the 1960s, under the impression that she is very much promising. Breakthrough, scientific and technological revolution, the development of quantum mechanics and space flight - all helped to generate ideas about the future blossoming of life. Remember fiction those years. There were also negative predictions, but it is much more emphasis on the fact that people will cope with diseases, will fly to neighboring stars to leave, to feed all the hungry and see that the earth - this garden.

None of this happened, and now predicts a science rather gloomy things: The sun goes out, the Earth will become uninhabitable, there are no means to fight disease and old age. People do not like it, so they want to prove that scientists are telling the truth. This will open up a new area for promises. If the earth is flat, it is possible and everything: immortality miraculous healing from disease and so on.

- Glowing point in the sky strongly romanticized and seem to be something special. The "Lion King", for example, they were connected with the spirits of ancestors. You probably are looking at the stars otherwise. What are the real scientific problems faced by astronomers?

- If we talk about watching the stars, it is only now we are beginning to learn that many of them have planetary systems. This is not visible to the naked eye, and even in telescopes, but now, looking at the starry sky, we can confidence to think that the near points of light flying around the same stone and gas balloons, like the solar system. This is not to say that life is common in the universe, but it's a step in the understanding of the problem.

Until the 1990s, we talked confidently of only one planetary system in the Universe, and then began to think that she was not alone. Now we can say that the formation of the planetary system - the rule rather than the exception. Most likely, the planets in the universe, even more than the stars. Now we will explore their environment, and this is a big step in astronomy.

- The Institute of Astronomy you zaveduete department of physics and evolution of stars. As the stars evolve and what does it depend?

- Evolution star completely defined by its initial weight and chemical composition. The sun, for example, was formed 4.7 billion years ago and is now in the prime of his life. Gradually it becomes more vivid, and 5 billion years will begin to grow strongly. Of yellow dwarf becomes a red giant and will occupy the space of the current orbit Earth. At the end of life will throw an outer shell, and smashed it into the environment - such objects can be observed in other stars of planetary nebulae. At the site of the Sun will only gradually to cool the core, which is 5 billion years will look the same as objects called "white dwarfs."

- And what will happen to the planets around the sun?

- This is a more difficult question. Will work different effects related to the fact that the Sun will lose mass. In general, anything good to happen to them will not be. Earth may be inside the sun or near its surface. But in any case, our planet would be unsuitable for life, so I have to somehow deal with this issue. Fortunately, we have a lot of time to something come up.

"Sometimes you want to sit in a chair and take a nap, but the head does not turn off"

- How is the standard working day?

- My kind of activity does not mean that at 9:00 am I go to work and going home at 18:00. This negative aspect, which also must be considered. The work does not let go never. Sometimes you want to sit in a chair and take a nap, but the head is not turned off.

In addition to the formation of proposals and reports, you almost always sit and think. First of all you need to create a task from previous studies, and then read a huge amount ReferencesTo understand, we do not decide whether it is already 30 years ago. Maybe someone made it worse than you can. In such cases it is necessary to formulate the physical and chemical model to come up with computer implementation, and then to code up until will not achieve a result.

- How does your workplace?

- I have two main jobs: at home and at the institute. They look the same: the computer and some literature. There are no specific requirements for the technology is not. I can work anywhere you can connect to the Internet.

- Do you use the services that simplify the work and life?

- The heaviest part of the activity - work with literature. Magazines publish countless, and are a huge number of articles. If I had to work with the paper version, it would be a disaster. Fortunately, there are several services designed for astronomers. With their help, I can get access to almost all astronomical journals and articles published since the eighteenth century. The most important part of the work - the presence of such bibliographic systems. One of the most prominent is called Astrophysics Data System. It allows you to search for a variety of sources: books, journals and presentations at conferences.

In astronomy observations made to spread into the general access, so these files are also very important. There is, for example, Infrared NASA archiveTo which you can connect and find the necessary observations.

- How do you organize yourself throughout the day?

- While I do not use any technique time managementAlthough, perhaps, in vain. I manage to keep all of the tasks in the head and gradually solve them.

- What do you do in your free time?

- Work astronomer leaves little free time. I can not stop thinking. Of course, sometimes I'm doing other things, but this is not a systematic history. I like, for example, to travel by car. In addition, as a child my parents gave me a camera. Since then, so was involved, I can not stop.

Layfhakerstvo by Dmitry Wiebe

books

If we talk about the books that have played a big role in my life, it is Children's Encyclopedia of Astronomy and book Vorontsov-Sonya "Essays on the Universe». Plus, of course, science fiction. As a child, I do believe his "professional responsibility" to watch all the fantastic films, regardless of their quality. Today, fortunately, also is published a lot of good popular books on astronomy, so that now there than motivated.

Movies and Series

From the movies - "Space Odyssey 2001». Shows I watch rare and only the most simple and plain - accept them as a sedative. Logenky humor, love, and justice is required. Soaps haute couture do not have time to watch, and it's not mine, to be honest.

Podcasts and videos

A terrible thing to say right now, I do not know what a podcast. Videos do not regularly watch no, especially colleagues lectures. Suddenly, they have something to tell better than me? And depressed long fall.