The Pale Blue Dot

[DisgruntledGoat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pfwY2TNehw

Saw this for the first time today, I thought others might enjoy. I think it puts everything into perspective, very humbling to say the least.

[Dayman]

Oh, it is.

I have a program called Celestia, lets me zoom out around the galaxy and nearby ones. Really, really, puts things into perspective. The fact that there are stars out there that would, on comparative scale, be so big that you can't see the sun.

When you read about these things called galactic filaments, that these are strands of trillions of galaxies, but on such a large scale that they appear solid, yet the spaces between them are wider than we can grasp.

And people go on about god and the importance of humanity. The universe is a grander place than we can EVER imagine.



Eta Carinae, the star is more than 100 times bigger than the sun. It's going to hypernova one day.




For example, try to grasp the scale of this galaxy, NGC 4414:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Just try. It hurts.

[Medicus]

Oh, it is.

I have a program called Celestia, lets me zoom out around the galaxy and nearby ones. Really, really, puts things into perspective. The fact that there are stars out there that would, on comparative scale, be so big that you can't see the sun.

When you read about these things called galactic filaments, that these are strands of trillions of galaxies, but on such a large scale that they appear solid, yet the spaces between them are wider than we can grasp.

And people go on about god and the importance of humanity. The universe is a grander place than we can EVER imagine.

I have Celestia too, and I ****ing love it. You're completely right, of course.

I think an image of the Pale Blue Dot might be appropriate:



The Scientist looking for Earth in those shots thought it was a speck of dust. That's all we are. A speck of dust, hurtling around an insignificant star in an insignificant galaxy, just one of billions scattered across a universe wider than our brain can comprehend.

[Sebdeas]

Too be honest I don't even try to understand.
Our planet is not even a grain of sand from a satellite.

I'm Dutch so I'm used to overshooting my weight
Can you imagine if we're alone in the universe?
That would be sick

[Syron]

In it's travel through the sky the moon obscures at least a million galaxies at any one time! Each of them houses a few billion stars like our own.

it is comprehensible, but also awe-inspiring.

[Dayman]

Dawkins is definitely right when he says that humans evolved to comprehend things from a few mm to a 20-30 kilometers. Anything else is beyond our experience.

[removeduser_426582376423734]

Evolution hasn't stopped. Maybe we can evolve as the small galaxy in Futurama says.

[Dayman]

Yes, but it'll be a while.

[removeduser_426582376423734]

Just a few billion years man, can't you wait that long?

[Gary88]

Eta Carinae, the star is more than 100 times bigger than the sun. It's going to hypernova one day.

the pistol star is 3 times bigger than that.

[Dayman]

Just a few billion years man, can't you wait that long?

I hope humanity doesn't blow itself up by then.

the pistol star is 3 times bigger than that.

It's insane.

[Gary88]

well actually its estimated at 300-380 solar radii so it could be almost 4 times the size

[Chaigidel]

the complete and utter meaninglessness of human lives cannot be overstated.
Its truly wonderful to be alive and to wonder at this shifting madness.

[Dayman]

the complete and utter meaninglessness of human lives cannot be overstated.

We agree for once


Seriously, I hurt my brain thinking about it. Unfortunately I'm not a mentat.

[Chaigidel]

we need more spice mines

[Ummagumma]

Yeah, it's all big. Really big.

I'm still special though.

[Dayman]

Yeah, it's all big. Really big.

I'm still special though.

Of course, you are.

[LSJ]

Everything is relative. To the universe, nothing, not even a black hole, is important.

So who cares about that grand scale? Lets just focus on our own solar system, in which we are all important beings to some degree.

[Medicus]

Of course, you are.

Boeing, admit it. You think you're the centre of the universe. It's okay, I think I am. And so does everyone else. It's all relative after all.

[LSJ]

I see nothing wrong with having me as the centre of the universe. To myself, I am the most important thing in existence.