NEW YORK — It took me by surprise, realizing how similar window-shopping sparkly pieces of designer jewelry can feel to marveling at galaxies across our universe. Both require some distance, for example. To catch a glimpse of galaxies, you need to either stand on Earth and look through a telescope or download images to view on your computer — and often, while walking down a city street, the only thing separating you from exquisite jewelry in a store window is a big price tag and some thick glass. But these experiences share another layer as well: They tend to evoke an appreciation in you for something you cannot touch.
At the American Museum of Natural History here in New York, I had the pleasure of experiencing both at the same time.
