PLATTSBURGH William Herschel, the discoverer of the planet Uranus, has composed symphonies.

In the third movement of one, the song is low and slow and creeps into silence for two seconds, said noted Canadian astronomerDr. David Levy.

Then out of that silence, the organist pounds on a note.

In one note, the audience and the organist rise up into the heavens. All in one note. That is astronomical, Levy told an audience at SUNY Plattsburgh recently, with his hands up in the air.

"Hes talking about the heavens there."

Levy focused on the intersection of astronomy and art in his talk, "Talks, Tune and Text: The Night Sky in History, Literature and Music," pointingout the connections between science, music, literature and visual art.

Taking the night sky that I love and the literature that I love to see how we can see this in an interdisciplinary way," Levy explained his intent.

"People like me become interested in astronomy not so much for the science but for the literature for it."

Levy holds a Ph.D in English literature and specializes in the appearance of astronomical phenomena in the works of Shakespeare and other authors.

He has written 34 books and has discovered 22 comets.

His greatest discovery is Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet, which collided with Jupiter in 1994, a joint find with Gene and Carolyn Shoemaker.

'CHILDISH WONDER'

Since the age of 8, Levys obsession with the night sky has fueled his life mission.

With the influence of his father, who was an avid reader, Levy developed a love of literature, leading to his doctorate in English literature.

Levy joked that his father would have disowned him if he had not liked Shakespeare. However, even in the books he read, Levy still looked for astronomy.

I never lost that childish wonder in the night sky, he said.

INFLUENCES

Levy told stories about how real astronomical phenomena is woven into the work of famous artists.

When Shakespeare was a boy, his father showed him a bright yellow spot in the sky that had appeared "out of nowhere," Levy said.

The astronomer traced the time of that story to the creation of the supernova Tycho's Star. The sight later influenced Shakespeare when he wrote "Hamlet."

Vincent Van Gogh was also influenced by the night sky, as evidenced by his famous painting "Starry Night."

Levy told how Van Gogh went to a bookstore and found Camille Flammarions book "Popular Astronomy." The cover displayed a beautiful sketch of the Whirlpool Galaxy.

Van Gogh loved the sketch so much, its the centerpiece of his painting.

"The International Astronomical Union feels that astronomy is not just meant for the astronomers; its meant for the rest of us," Levy said. "Like literature is not meant for English majors; its for anyone who likes to read.

He believes artists really project their appreciation for the night sky through their art.

Thats a way of looking at science and the night sky through music and art, Levy said.

CONNECTIONS

Megan Spears, an amateur astronomy and Levy fan, agrees. She has followed Levy's and the Shoemakers careers and, when told by a friend that he was going to be speaking at SUNY Plattsburgh, had to attend.

I am an artist myself, and astronomy is my passion for science, Spears said.

She said she learned everything she knows about visual astronomy from stargazing.

I think it plays a big role in how I create my art. I can see how it can easily correlate as being the vast heavens in itself into an artistic medium, whether it be music, poetry, art as in paintings there is a whole variety of different ways it can be portrayed.

BLENDED

Ed Guenther, a friend of Levy and husband of SUNY professor Dr. Wendy Gordon, says the astronomer shares an important message.

I think the takeaway is you don't have to be an astronomer, a nerd or have a pocket protector or anything to enjoy other art and life, Guenther said.

She saw two young women nodding their heads in agreement throughout the program.

That connection that everything is tied together and you are not just an accountant, mathematician or astronomer; you can be all those things an astronomer, composer and a poet.

"And I think thats nice.

Read this article:

Famed astronomer ties stars to art - Plattsburgh Press Republican