cant comprehend sizes of space "things"

[doogal]

i was lookin at this picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...comparison.jpg

and i just cant get my mind around the fact that there are things out there so massive i really cant imagine it.
im very new to this hobby and everyday i'm getting blown away by some new bit of information

[DobDobDob (Ron)]

Well get used to it, you will never get to the end of impressive 'stuff' in the world of astronomy

[mickoking]

yeah, the scale of things blows me away too

[Ric]

The best way to sum it up came from Douglas Adams of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy fame.

"Space is big, really big"


Cheers

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Ric

The best way to sum it up came from Douglas Adams of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy fame.

"Space is big, really big"


Cheers

Doh, Ric you took the words right out of my mouth.........

[leon]

Pretty scary that Big Planet looking down on our little Earth.

Leon

[Ric]

Sorry Andrew, great minds must think alike.

Cheers

[Marko of Oz (Mark)]

I just showed my missus that comparison photo, in her amazement she used a few expletives I can't use here

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Doogal I think all of these have been listed here abouts previously but here's an encore listing just for you. See how you go wrapping your head around these - they always blow me away too!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:NewSolarSystem2.jpg

http://www.co-intelligence.org/newsl...mparisons.html

This one isn't visual, but it DOES give an excellent idea of the true scale of our solar system.
http://www.noao.edu/education/peppercorn/pcmain.html


and finally....
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/335005...eme_of_things/


If that last one doesn't make your head spin, nothing ever will again!

Cheers Doogal, welcome to the greatest mind bending hobby around.

Steve

[Lert]

Not exactly what I was looking for but it will do.. Powers of 10.. It seems from our perspective human knowledge extends something like 10 +\- exp 20 odd. Funny we sit in the middle somewhere. The video on this link seems to omit the sub atomic particles but gives a good idea anyway..

(probably not suitable for dialup)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...24039283018435

Cheers

[leon]

Wow I really enjoyed that, it certainly makes you think.

Leon

[RB (Andrew)]

Truly mind boggling !!!

[StarKers]

Hi Doogal,

You and I both entered the world of astronomy about the same time.
I purchased my first telescope on the afternoon of 31 May 2007, and
Jonathan, IIS ID AstroJunk, very kindly gave me a book titled
NightWatch, A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe, by Terence
Dickenson, and published by Firefly Books Ltd.

There is a wonderful article in it that helps to get your head around
the vastnes of the universe. It is written by Sir James Jeans and is
titled The Universe In Eleven Steps.

Here is the first paragraph:

Astronomy stretches the mind like nothing else in human experience.
Enormous distances, sizes and timespans challenge the imagination;
alien concepts like black holes and galactic cannabalism strain
comprehension. Yet it is possible to bring the total picture - the
structure and extent of he entire universe - into focus.

From there, Sir James goes on to present a step by step aproach to
understanding this vastness.

A thoroughly good read, and very informative.

If you can get a hold of a copy of this book, I cannot recommend it
strongly enough. No matter if you are a beginner or a seasoned
amateur astronomer.

Happy stargazing,
John.

[Ingo]

I can't look at those images. Ever since I was a little kid, I used to think of like a comparison between a boulder and a pebble, and get a fever and really sick.

I don't know why, but it's some kind of phobia I think

[Lert]

I remember when I was young and lying in bed thinking of the universe I would get this very weird 'small' feeling, as though I was disapearing down to the size of a dot.. In retrospect I was probably not far of the mark. Nothing like sleeping in a swag hundreds of k's from anywhere, looking up at the milky way and just wondering about stuff.

[xelasnave]

I mostly take the view the Universe is infinite .

There are many who dont support this view however I like to think about it being this way simply to imagine how small we must really be, and the probabilities that present for us to be replicated many many times.. infinite ly in fact...

Needless to say it is found people who study infinity can go around the twist..fact .
But I think its so neat that we can be so little but somehow so important all at once .

AND sometimes when things seem harse in your Universe it does not seem so bad because in relation to everything its nothing really.

Looking at the stars is a good reminder for that.

alex

[doogal]

Ha Steve that last one you posted was awesome! im glad im not the only 1 whos mind just goes cloudy when trying to think about such things

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Yeah Doogal it really is incredible stuff, absolutely incredible.
Hope you continue to be amazed on a daily basis while enjoying this fine pursuit.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Ingo, Lert,
I can totally relate to the feelings you had as youngsters. Especially that surreal small feeling.
Kind of like stepping into Douglas Adams' fictional "Total Perspective Vortex".
Makes you feel very insignificant.

LOLOL This is where Michael Palin steps up and asks, "Can I have your liver then?"

[ving (David)]

one could call the vastness of space er.... astronomically big!

if one felt so inclined.