In Review: First Light

We were among the first collectors of “First Light” by artist WTTDOTM, a unique project that the artist describes like this:

“First Lights are stars that nobody has ever seen before. Through a process done in consultation with research astronomers around the world, the excess and unimportant stars of astronomy are collected, printed, folded, and sealed completely blindly, so that when you open up a First Light, you become the first person in the world to witness it.”

This morning I took out the sealed envelope and attached letter.

I popped open the wax seal.

Inside I found two pieces of paper. One was a set of instructions and QR codes. The other a photograph of the star I was the first person to glimpse. At the top was the star’s name: Gaia DR3 3327197021163332864.

I decided to sit with the image for a few minutes, doing nothing but looking at the small glowing orb rendered on low-res, home-printed paper. I know this will sound crazy, but I felt something. And the longer I stared, the more I felt. 

Without plan or intention, I took out my phone and recorded an oral ode to this star — a verse of what I felt in that moment:

Ode to Gaia DR33327197021163332864

Did I first see you or you me?
Photons phosphorously frolicking through unimaginable blackness
To reach these tired eyes in the morning light
Even though I’m looking at a picture it feels like you’re here
A new friend with a steady heart and kind smile
Is it winter there? What sort of sound does the ice make when the pressure shifts?
I haven’t spent much time on gaseous planets, even less on suns 
Much of your existence leaves me in the dark
But across trillions of miles and years, we’re not so far apart 

This is not, like, a normal thing for me — to be writing poems on the spot. There’s some essence, some romanticism, some mysticism, that surrounded the experience and inspired it. Maybe it’s in packaging and storytelling. Or maybe it’s in stardust itself.

The second piece of paper includes more details about the star, including its size, general location, and QR codes that link to actual telescopic images. Here’s our dear Gaia DR33327197021163332864 in the flesh:

When I opened the envelope I wasn't sure what to expect. The experience exceeded any hoped-for expectations. Highly recommended as a gift to someone you love (including yourself). Thank you to the artist WTTDOTM for the wonderful piece and experience, and for introducing me to a new friend.

Collect "First Light" ($30)