Whispers from the Star

This game left me thinking more than I expected. Whispers from the Star offers a unique experience: having a conversation with an artificial intelligence who presents herself as an astronaut on the planet Gaia. The atmosphere is immersive, the graphics are beautifully crafted, and the pacing of the dialogue makes it easy to lose track of time. It genuinely feels like you're speaking with someone observing Earth from afar.

One important note: for now, the game is only available in English. This may limit the experience for players who aren’t fluent, especially since much of the gameplay revolves around emotional dialogue and subtle interpretation.

A feature I found especially charming is the choice between two response modes: a fast reply option, or a slower one where Stella (the AI astronaut) takes her time to answer because she’s “busy walking across the planet” or “setting up camp.” This mechanic adds a contemplative, human-like rhythm to the experience, making it feel like you’re truly waiting for someone to respond from another world.

But not everything is as stellar as it seems. While the game excels artistically and emotionally, there are technical and ethical concerns. Being cloud-based, its privacy policies are vague. It’s unclear what rights users have or how to opt out of data sharing. In fact, the developers openly state their intention to sell user information to third parties. That’s a serious issue—especially if someone gets caught up in the conversation and shares personal details without realizing the risks.

So, while I enjoyed the experience, I wouldn’t recommend it for children or for anyone who values their digital privacy. It’s a game that invites reflection, but also demands caution.

Thought for the Day: Bécquer and the Telescope

On this cold night on Mount Charleston, in the early morning, as I adjusted the focus of my telescope toward the cluster M57, a curious thought struck me: what would Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer have written if he had had access to a modern telescope? How would he have transformed his romantic melancholy when contemplating globular clusters like M57 or the distant Magellanic Clouds?

Bécquer's poetry always seemed to look inward, toward the depths of the soul. But what if he had looked outward, toward the depths of the universe?

Perhaps poetry isn't so far removed from astronomy. Both seek the invisible, the eternal, that which connects us to something greater than ourselves.

And you? Which poet would you take with you to explore the cosmos?

Pic taken on the night of the 8 to the 9 of August 2025

 Captured the Moon in high detail at Waxing Gibbous at 100%.  

Craters, maria, and shadows—each telling a story billions of years old.  

Still can’t believe this view from my backyard.

Did you know? The Moon reaches “full” status when it’s directly opposite the Sun from Earth’s perspective. Even a few hours before or after, it’s still considered waxing gibbous.