Looking for Aliens Dora's Poetry Corner 3 AUTUMN I S SUE | OCTOBER 2 0 2 3 RICH TWEEDY DORA WATKINS There are several caveats to the story – not least that the astronomers themselves admit that the evidence is not particularly strong, and may not stand up to scrutiny. The planet itself is a gas giant more like Neptune than a rocky body like Earth, so any life found is likely only to be microbial. But even the detection of nothing more than microbial life would itself be a spectacular discovery. But it’s fun to speculate about life elsewhere in space. You might wonder where God fits into this? Well – if God created the entire universe, it’s up to him where life ends up being formed. The reality of Jesus being the Son of God isn’t dependent upon the presence or absence of life elsewhere in the universe. In Jesus, God has given us plenty for us to get to know him; if God created more life than what’s on Earth, who are we to complain? At Christmas in Shapwick, when we celebrate Jesus’ birth, we’ll have our candlelit carol service on Wednesday 13th Dec at 7:30pm, and outdoor carols (weather permitting) on Sunday 24th Dec at 4:00, at the pavilion. Do come – you would be most welcome! Every blessing, Rich Tweedy vicar@poldenwheel.co.uk Aliens have been in the news recently. NASA gave a long-awaited report on UFOs, which concluded that there’s no proof that they come from extraterrestrials – but they can’t rule out the possibility. In the previous week, astronomers made an announcement about an exoplanet – a planet orbiting another star – called K2-18b. Its significance is that it’s one of only a few known to live both in the habitable zone of a star (ie at the right distance from the star to be comfortable for life), and to have detectable water. While observing it, this team claim to have detected the signature of a chemical in the planet’s atmosphere which is believed only to come from life. It’s a tantalising hint that life may exist elsewhere in the universe. Artist’s impression of K2-18b and its star: ESA/Hubble, M. Kornmesser Willow Haven The willow bends its branches To the rhyne waters beneath A warm breeze rustles through them A soft melody of sound Sun’s bright rays filter through them Dappling the water beneath Many insects skid and scud Over the water beneath Meanwhile under the water It is teeming with life A little willow haven In a moor of tranquility A bright liquid mosaic Moving with wind and water Dragonfly hovers above Then lands on bright foliage Bright gossamer wings shining Tall yellow flag irises Enhancing the summer scene Even taller bullrushes Stand sentinel, watching all Shapwick Weather STUART DENNES If anyone tells you there is no such thing as Climate Change…Here is Shapwick’s rainfall in millimetres over this year and last: Gardeners and farmers will have been glad of the extra rain this year as we have returned to “normal” levels after the drastically low rainfall throughout 2022; but of course, the rain never falls at quite the right time! Regarding temperatures, our highest so far this year was 33.8 recorded last week on September 6th, just beating the 33.5 recorded in the June heatwave. During the August 2022 heatwave I recorded 37.8 when records were tumbling nationally, so I suspect that was probably an all-time record for Shapwick too. I like to hope that record will never be beaten, but we’re living through some strange meteorological times; who would have predicted a February would be the driest month?
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