The universe is big. Really big. So big we just can't understand it. A swedish website Lista.se made a list (lista = list in swedish) about 5 things to help you understand how big the universe is. Hope you will like it.
The scale of the universe This is a flash were you can zoom in on small things, like atoms, or really big things... Like the universe.
Star size comparison How big is the earth and the sun compared to other stars? They are nothing. You probably have seen various pictures or gifs with this but here is an HD version. Before you watch this, try to understand the size of the sun. Can you do it? Good. Now watch and try to understand the sheer size of the largest star known.
The Hubble Ultra Deep Field in 3D A movie about the single most important picture ever taken. The movie explains it all better than I ever will.
The Most Distant Galaxies Ever Seen The same man that made the movie above made this one as well. This time, we will see even deeper in space.
The known universe Just an astounding movie. Takes us from the tops of the Himalayas all the way through space the afterglow of the Big Bang. It shows us the most complete map there is of the universe with every star, galaxy and quasar mapped. Perfect to have your brain melt.
how do we know the universe is big? there could be much larger things out there. I'm beginning to wonder weather the difference in size between an atom and the universe as much at all.
On October 10 2010 00:31 fabiano wrote: What is there beyond the edges of the universe? I always get myself thinking about that.
Something we, based on the laws of physics, can't find out It's too far out for us too see. Thinking about the size of the universe always feels so humbling. We really don't mean anything in this universe... sigh how depressing.
I disagree with that image of being insignificant. How can you say something like that? No one knows how rare intelligent life is or life itself for that matter. So until we find out how many intelligent lifeforms there are, I say we're really fucking significant.
On October 10 2010 05:30 Raisauce wrote: I disagree with that image of being insignificant. How can you say something like that? No one knows how rare intelligent life is or life itself for that matter. So until we find out how many intelligent lifeforms there are, I say we're really fucking significant.
Pure probability makes it unlikely that we're the only intelligent life - its just almost impossible to scout out even our own galaxy, let alone the other ONE HUNDRED BILLION other galaxies. The laws of physics give us a relatively small scope that we can affect. Just because we can observe how big the universe is, doesn't mean we're never going to even come close to getting out of our galaxy even with an extemely powerful engine, unless somehow we give ourselves however many years.
Humanity will probably co me and go without any major effect on anything outside our solar system. We just measure and observe.
It's very likely there are multiple intelligent lifeforms who also are unable to affect anything outside the small scope of their planet.
In fact, any signs of intelligence life will take millions of years to come due to how many light years other galaxies are away from us. We're observing the universe as it was millions or even billions of years ago at the further away sections. Other intelligent life may know about earth when the dinosaurs were around.
Really, significant must mean we can have a large effect on an outcome of something, which we clearly cannot.
so badass how big the everything is, i like the idea of the chance of more intelligent life on other planets being almost implied since how big the whole thing is, how can we be the only ones?
EPT![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/qTYGS.jpg)
It's too far out for us too see. Thinking about the size of the universe always feels so humbling. We really don't mean anything in this universe... sigh how depressing.
