This memoir charts the life of Dr. Aomawa Shields as an astronomer, classically-trained actor, mother, and Black woman in STEM as she searches for life in the universe while building a meaningful life here on Earth.

Beginning -- The big bang ; Expansion ; Jazz ; High flight ; Choosing -- Physics ; Research ; Tide ; Migration ; Acting ; Home ; Temping ; Break ; Recovery ; Pluto ; Stars and life ; Hair ; Returning -- Solar cycle ; Snowballs and life ; The qual ; Ice ; The weather on other worlds ; Gravitational interactions ; Congratulations, Dr. Shields ; Merging -- Different stars ; Harvard ; TED ; Kids ; Exploding stars ; A bird's wing in Taos ; Evolution ; Pregnant ; Welcome to the world ; Plenary ; Neowise ; Rising -- I never thought I was only located here ; Aliens ; Congratulations, Professor Shields ; First day of class ; Twelve things going through my mind during an average minute of my life on retreat in Ojai ; Destiny ; Home ; Journey.