--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My interest in astronomy took me to the…" description: "\"“My interest in astronomy took me to the premier astronomical observatories in the world before I developed occupational diseases and became disabled a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/steven-magee-129_altitude_my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the_115231.jpg" --- # My interest in astronomy took me to the premier… ![“My interest in astronomy took me to the premier astronomical observatories in the world before I developed occupational diseases and became disabled at age 45 with mental and physical illnesses.” quote by Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/steven-magee-129_altitude_my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the_115231.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/steven-magee-129_altitude_my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the_115231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/steven-magee-129_altitude_my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the_115231.jpg) > ““My interest in astronomy took me to the premier astronomical observatories in the world before I developed occupational diseases and became disabled at age 45 with mental and physical illnesses.”” [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator pursued astronomy at elite observatories, but later suffered occupational illness and disability, highlighting the fragility of scientific careers. **In simple terms:** His astronomy career ended due to illness. Key Takeaway Physical health can abruptly end professional aspirations. Themes career health science disability Mood reflective somber Type personal narrative cautionary When to use this quote - discussions on workplace safety in labs - support groups for disabled scientists Key Concepts occupational risk Practical Applications - advocating for better health monitoring for researchers - creating adaptive research roles Questions to Reflect On - How can scientific institutions better protect researchers? - What support exists for disabled scientists? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize hardship without addressing systemic safety failures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astronomical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomical/) [Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) [Occupational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupational/) [Tmt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tmt/) ## Related quotes > [“High altitude astronomical observatories tend to be windowless environments illuminated by florescent light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/high-altitude-astronomical-observatories-tend-to-be-windowless/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Over 275,000 people had signed to end the construction of the TMT telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) by week 20 of the protest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/over-275-000-people-had-signed-to-end-the-construction-of-the-tmt/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I have quite a few friends from the Mauna Kea Observatories in Hawaii that have died prematurely before reaching retirement age. Strange illnesses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-have-quite-a-few-friends-from-the-mauna-kea-observatories-in-hawaii/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) are a good example of what is wrong with science.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-mauna-kea-observatories-mko-are-a-good-example-of-what-is-wrong/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I am committed to shutting down the toxic Mauna Kea Observatories and this is a serious problem for professional astronomers, given that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-am-committed-to-shutting-down-the-toxic-mauna-kea-observatories-and/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The Workers Compensation system for occupational diseases is a government con for the vast majority of applicants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-workers-compensation-system-for-occupational-diseases-is-a/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The majority of prescription medications that the doctors gave me degraded my health instead of improving it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-majority-of-prescription-medications-that-the-doctors-gave-me/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I found myself alone having to navigate through a legal system that required the guidance of a lawyer to be successful, a legal system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-found-myself-alone-having-to-navigate-through-a-legal-system-that/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The biggest mistake that I made in life was working for biologically toxic employers. The second biggest mistake was expecting that the modern healthcare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made-in-life-was-working-for-biologically/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“By the time I had seen the problems from applying for workers compensation for occupational disease, I had concluded that I was journeying through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/by-the-time-i-had-seen-the-problems-from-applying-for-workers/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“When OSHA fails, social media is the backup plan!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-osha-fails-social-media-is-the-backup-plan/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“My first day was healthy, my second day was spent developing occupational diseases, and my third day is being kept alive by drugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/my-first-day-was-healthy-my-second-day-was-spent-developing/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“When the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) found out that Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were going to visit the site to assist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-the-national-optical-astronomy-observatory-noao-found-out-that/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Sleep disorders are a known occupational hazard to astronomers and their support staff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/sleep-disorders-are-a-known-occupational-hazard-to-astronomers-and/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Occupational Safety & Health Administration's (OSHA) lack of law enforcement has made the USA a dangerous place to work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/occupational-safety-health-administration-s-osha-lack-of-law/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## More by Steven Magee > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The world is witnessing one of the greatest frauds the Florida government has ever engaged in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-world-is-witnessing-one-of-the-greatest-frauds-the-florida/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is largely an interrogation agency for whistle-blowers that extracts their full range of knowledge without upholding their legal rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/occupational-safety-health-administration-osha-is-largely-an/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The medical profession is a money making con, they will keep you sick on a variety of expensive prescriptions and on a yo-yo into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-medical-profession-is-a-money-making-con-they-will-keep-you-sick/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“There is a time and place for electromagnetic shielding and I regard it as a last resort due to the long term biological problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-is-a-time-and-place-for-electromagnetic-shielding-and-i-regard/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“To riot or not to riot, that is the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/to-riot-or-not-to-riot-that-is-the-question/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Publicly telling the truth on social media can be one of the most effective healing journeys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/publicly-telling-the-truth-on-social-media-can-be-one-of-the-most/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The W. M. Keck Observatory is the only employer that has surprised me during my employment with urine tests for illegal drugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-w-m-keck-observatory-is-the-only-employer-that-has-surprised-me/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I will do everything I legally can to shut down the toxic Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project atop Mauna Kea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-will-do-everything-i-legally-can-to-shut-down-the-toxic-thirty/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The difference between President Trump and Steven Magee? Steven Magee publicly acknowledges his mental illnesses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-difference-between-president-trump-and-steven-magee-steven-magee/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“There were a lot of stressed out people in the company as we were discovering how dangerous the DeSoto Solar Farm was!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-were-a-lot-of-stressed-out-people-in-the-company-as-we-were/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Interacting with a corrupt government judge is futile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/interacting-with-a-corrupt-government-judge-is-futile/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I knew I was disabled when everyday home activities became overwhelming!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-knew-i-was-disabled-when-everyday-home-activities-became/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) [Explore all 1,204 Steven Magee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## More Altitude quotes > [Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you'll love it up here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/change-your-attitude-and-gain-some-altitude-believe-me-you-ll-love-it/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“I will do everything I legally can to shut down the toxic Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project atop Mauna Kea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-will-do-everything-i-legally-can-to-shut-down-the-toxic-thirty/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I knew I was disabled when everyday home activities became overwhelming!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-knew-i-was-disabled-when-everyday-home-activities-became/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Over 275,000 people had signed to end the construction of the TMT telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) by week 20 of the protest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/over-275-000-people-had-signed-to-end-the-construction-of-the-tmt/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The toxicity of medical and industrial gas to the human depends on where it is used. A gas that is regarded as safe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-toxicity-of-medical-and-industrial-gas-to-the-human-depends-on/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [It is not your aptitude, but your attitude, that determines your altitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-is-not-your-aptitude-but-your-attitude-that-determines-your/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“Summit Lag occurs when a summit worker is kept in a permanent state of mal-acclimatization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/summit-lag-occurs-when-a-summit-worker-is-kept-in-a-permanent-state/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall - it's great when you stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-darwin/climbing-at-altitude-is-like-hitting-your-head-against-a-brick-wall/) Chris Darwin > [Attitude and not the Aptitude decide the Altitude you reach in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/attitude-and-not-the-aptitude-decide-the-altitude-you-reach-in-life/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“Plastic bottles of Gatorade were given free to very high altitude workers on Mauna Kea and they were advised to drink it while on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/plastic-bottles-of-gatorade-were-given-free-to-very-high-altitude/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [With the altitude in the Rocky Mountains, the ball jumps off your foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tucker/with-the-altitude-in-the-rocky-mountains-the-ball-jumps-off-your-foot/) [Justin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tucker/) > [I believe it is our attitude that determines our altitude. It is our attitude that allows us to soar above those things that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-believe-it-is-our-attitude-that-determines-our-altitude-it-is-our/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [“It's your ATTITUDE not your APTITUDE that ultimately determines your ALTITUDE!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-your-attitude-not-your-aptitude-that-ultimately-determines-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Poor diet combined with high altitude exposures may bring increased risks of illnesses and cancers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/poor-diet-combined-with-high-altitude-exposures-may-bring-increased/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Sleep disorders are a known occupational hazard to astronomers and their support staff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/sleep-disorders-are-a-known-occupational-hazard-to-astronomers-and/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) Browse all 214 Altitude quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“My interest in astronomy took me to the premier astronomical observatories in the world before I developed occupational diseases and became disabled at age 45 with mental and physical illnesses.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Magee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the-premier-astronomical/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Altitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the-premier-astronomical/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/steven-magee-129_altitude_my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the_115231.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/steven-magee-129_altitude_my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the_115231.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/steven-magee-129_altitude_my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the_115231.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My interest in astronomy took me to the premier astronomical observatories in the world before I developed…” — Steven Magee", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steven Magee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“My interest in astronomy took me...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the-premier-astronomical/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the-premier-astronomical/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```