How to make yourself feel small:

ID:38825
 
Feb 3 2008, 10:13 pm
Take a look at this picture (not dial-up friendly). This picture is the furthest extent the universe has been photographed. Every single point of light you see there is an entire galaxy, and we look about the same to anyone looking at us from those galaxies.

As well, everyone one of those galaxies is moving away from us, and they're all moving away from eachother. At some point in the future we'll be alone in the universe, not being able to see even a single photon light from any of the galaxies that you can see in that picture.

Note: That picture, while containing a lot of galaxies, is barely a fraction of the night sky. If I remember correctly, the area photographed took up less space than the moon does in the night sky.
Feb 3 2008, 10:21 pm
Wow, I was expecting a bigger picture but I assume the pic had to be downsized quite a lot. Still though, that's a lot of galaxies and I'm pretty certain there's other life out there..
Feb 3 2008, 11:57 pm
Even though I've seen this picture countless times, it's just as beautiful as the first time I've seen it.
Feb 4 2008, 12:25 am
That's pretty amazing.
Feb 4 2008, 2:29 am
Most definitely amazing.
Feb 4 2008, 4:28 am
Mecha Destroyer JD wrote:
Wow, I was expecting a bigger picture but I assume the pic had to be downsized quite a lot. Still though, that's a lot of galaxies and I'm pretty certain there's other life out there..

I always want to slap people when they refuse to ponder that by chance there are probably tons of other planets with life on them. Sure, Earth has some rather specific features, but if you roll the dice long enough, say damn near infinitely, you're bound to get some similar numbers.
Feb 4 2008, 9:27 am
Hey look, I can see MasterDan ... 's ego.
Feb 4 2008, 11:58 am
Crybox wrote:
Hey look, I can see MasterDan ... 's ego.

Heh, that was actually rather witty.
Feb 4 2008, 12:03 pm
Yea, I laughed too.
Feb 4 2008, 12:33 pm
Crybox wrote:
Hey look, I can see MasterDan ... 's ego.

Is it the big black thing in the background?
Feb 4 2008, 1:27 pm
0.0
Feb 4 2008, 2:33 pm
That's such a beautiful picture. Your quite right about how this can make you feel insignificant.
Just a good example of something you don't normally see.
Feb 5 2008, 11:24 am
Since the current generation of humanity (and the subsequent 100,000 generations) will be dead long before we 'run out of starlight', why should we care about not being able to see them? We see them now, and that's all that matters.
Feb 19 2008, 11:17 pm
EGUY wrote:
Mecha Destroyer JD wrote:
Wow, I was expecting a bigger picture but I assume the pic had to be downsized quite a lot. Still though, that's a lot of galaxies and I'm pretty certain there's other life out there..

I always want to slap people when they refuse to ponder that by chance there are probably tons of other planets with life on them. Sure, Earth has some rather specific features, but if you roll the dice long enough, say damn near infinitely, you're bound to get some similar numbers.

Not to mention, I'm sure if there was life on other planets, they'd rely on the resources on their planet, not so much the resources that sustains life here on Earth. I don't doubt there are other life-forms somewhere in the universe.

Feb 19 2008, 11:52 pm
digitalmouse wrote:
Since the current generation of humanity (and the subsequent 100,000 generations) will be dead long before we 'run out of starlight', why should we care about not being able to see them? We see them now, and that's all that matters.

We have to start acting now so that we can save it for that 100,001st generation! Maybe we should start making jars lined with tin foil to keep the light safe in.