Wonder

I know there are many deep philosophical aspects to the appreciation of beauty.  I'm sure I could spend an entire career studying the elements of aesthetics: the biological responses of neurological pathways when presented with beauty, the psychological state of being associated with beauty, the philosophical question of why beauty exists, etc.  The thing that I would very much like to know is why mankind shares a common sense of wonder and appreciation for natural phenomena beyond the scope of human influence.  Why is space so awesome?  Why does the Grand Canyon attract countless tourists (beyond the possible social pressures and stigma of the vacation archetype)?  Why does this sense of wonder seem to be (form what I understand) common to all human populations?  I doubt it could be scarcity, for there are many other things that are scarce that few would describe as wonderful (different species of insect come to mind).  Additionally, scientists who devote their entire lives to investigating specific topics have a habit of retaining their wonder despite decades of research and exposure.  We can spend every night of our lives living under a blanket of twinkling stars and still be filled with a sense of awe simply by looking into the night sky.  What is it about the natural world that fills us with such a sense of wonder and beauty?  Surely this appreciation developed after the primary form of selection on the human population came from within our own species, so what value does this wonder have?  Many scientific contributions have stemmed from curiosity and obsession, yet many who are curious do not achieve such accolades.  Could our common sense of wonder toward the universe be the heavenly declaration of God's glory?  Or could it be much more simply explained by the fulfillment of some psychological or sociological need?

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  Psalm 19:1