How to Picture the Size of the Universe

[n2doc]

Space, as Douglas Adams once so aptly wrote, is big.

To try imagining how big, place a penny down in front of you. If our sun were the size of that penny, the nearest star, Alpha Centauri, would be 350 miles away. Depending on where you live, that’s very likely in the next state (or possibly country) over.

Attempting to imagine distances larger than this quickly becomes troublesome. At this scale, the Milky Way galaxy would be 7.5 million miles across, or more than 30 times the distance between the Earth and the moon. As you can see, these are rather inhuman dimensions that are almost impossible to really get a sense of.

But that doesn’t mean it’s completely impossible. Astronomers have made observations and simulations that in some way capture the enormity of our cosmos. In this gallery, Wired will look at the size and scale of the universe’s largest, farthest, and most mysterious objects.


more

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/universe-size/

[Newest Reality]

1. And don't forget ...

It's a really, really big BATTLEFIELD!

We here, on what will be known as the planet Armament, will be supplying the vital tools required to do battle in more interesting, efficient and massively lethal ways! They even come in the color of your choice, (monogram inscriptions extra).

Our evolution and technology seem to be leaning heavily in that direction, ey? Weapons, war and destruction are looking to be the number-one sign of high civilization and superior intelligence. Oh, and did I mention profitable?

From the planet that brought you Social Darwinism. Have a happy NAQOYQATSI!

[zbdent]

2. the problem is that anybody trying to imagine the size of the universe

is trying to "limit" it ... or, as I usually say, trying to put it in a box ... not able to grasp the concept of "infinite"

(however, some people who try to put the univ in a box have no problem with some faceless/bodiless being having "infinite" power ...)

[Lint Head]

3. Now imagine a microbe attempting to build a rocket that would travel that 350 mile span.

That is the concept of us trying to reach these faraway stellar places in the cosmos.

[SheilaT]

4. What a good way to picture our possible attempts

to cross interstellar space!

[deutsey]

5. That really does clarify it.

:thumbsup: