How big are we?
 

To quote Norm, "Oh...my...God." I don't know about anyone else, but I can't watch something like this and not believe in a superior being or life on other planets/moons.

Thanks for sharing, madman. :)

Those stars are giant!

Here's another video:
YouTube - The Known Universe by AMNH

How big are we?
 

That video is depressing. There's all that universe out there and no feasible way to explore it. God, what kind of cruel joke is this? *cries*

That just shows how dang insignificant we really are. Thanks for the post, Vauktu.

Not to sound negative or patronizing, but how is this in any way new information? Sure we don't think about these things, because we are busy with our meaningless daily lives, but once you stop for a moment and think, it's really quite obvious.

And yes, life is the most cruel joke ever, but we don't need to go into space to realize that. Terra firma is more than enough to come in terms with the fact that life is meaningless. Space is only there for extra annoyance, like somehow taunting us for our misery and ignorance here.

The word insignificant doesn't even begin to cover what we are on this pathetic ball of dirt.

What is so bloody wonderful about our existence? For me it's more of a curse than a wonder. Also only a need won't do you any good if you don't have the means to pursue those needs.

And that picture is just a rock covered in algae, what's the big deal? Then again I can't think of anything that would motivate me to "make a difference".

I'm sorry for my moody behavior, but this is the way I am when frustrated with life. I don't really know why I'm even posting again, since all I ever do is complain and just ruin the enjoyment for others.

AAH! Vauktu, you stole my idea.

anyway, for the safety of the website, i will only post a link.
that is the black space inbetween stars in the night sky.

Seen that before, but it's certainly impressive...

This is why we are not alone in the universe.

How big are we?
 

Oh, those videos are impressive. I can see how small and vulnerable is our world, Earth. And even of its smallnes it is the most beatifull and complex of all those objects that we know well enough so far. It's just amazing. And even more sad to see how we behave after watching this.

I wonder how big portion(if any) of these radiowaves are product of our technology or if it is caused only by magnetosphere interaction.

Ya know, it would be pretty easy to get lost "up" there.

Nice stuff to share, Jon. Thanks for digging those up. Ditto Vauktu and Apollo. I've been considering astronomy as a hobby, but I likes my sleep! The thing is, astronomy people are a lot like us... they can think about the more esoteric stuff in this life and enjoy it. I need to go to a star party or something, just to try it out. Tucson is supposed to be great for looking up.

How big are we?
 

It will probably pay the bills rather well, Jon. Analysis of any ilk is great fun. I used to do IT analysis for a credit card firm. There's nothing quite as much fun professionally as being the guy that found the answer to something. Astronomy is a decent hobby. You can gawk as much as you can learn. Looking up at the starry sky always gives me that feeling of the numinous. I got that word from Contact, by Carl Sagan. I recommend that book without reservation to anyone, and knowing the personality of this place, that goes double here. Good ol' Carl. He was a real character, and really made one appreciate the cosmos. Billions and billions of times over.

we are small, we may just control earth, but as for intergalactic rule, i doubt it, there will be others out there for sure, but we will go out there, because of mans incontrollable neeed to know anywhere and neeed to go everywhere.

more ontopic: i sometimes stop up in my walking or biking or what ever just to stand and look at the stars, because it is a marvelous sight

Definitely go to a Star Party! They're literally epic! During the winter I take my telescope out to a monthly Star Party by my local observatory, and even tiny as these are they're still great. I went to a national Star Party near Dublin last year and I must say it was one of the best events I've even been to in my life. :D

When Im older, or at least get the funding, Im heading off to the Fort Davis Star Party in Texas. :)

dude, i allways wanted to do something like that, or just look up in the sky with a telecope :P

i really love those kind of video! <3 stars!

Here's another two films for you guys that I discovered recently.

Every square (or circle) you see as it zooms out is 10 times larger than the previous circle/square. (Hence why the videos are called powers of 10.) It starts out at 1m² then 10m² then 100m² etc. etc.

I would suggest watching the second video first, it has some cracking music to go with it and I think the effect is a lot more impressive.

This is the original film...







And here is a much shorter version which has the same effect.

Buying a telescope was probably one of the smartest decisions I ever made, though it put me back around $700.

A lot of people are usually disappointed when they look through a telescope for reasons that I'll only expose if Im asked to. :P

Love videos like this! Its so hard to grasp though how huge the universe is, it just goes on endlessly and I cant fathome that we are alone. Also, as someone else said I can imagine how easy it would be to get lost in space. Once could spend an entire lifetime attempting to explore the depths of this universe.

And Fort Davis eh? Ill have to try going there being in Texas myself, bit of a drive but sounds awesome!

This is last year's Star Party in Fort Davis, Texas.

Prepare to be in awe.

Wow, that is a great video. The night sky is so amazing. Too bad I can't enjoy it, damn light pollution.

Wow!!

I feel.......
Small...