If the Moon were one pixel...

[Fr8monkey]

Enjoy the side scroll... (http://joshworth.com/dev/pixelspace/pixelspace_solarsystem.html)

[nikimcbee]

You would need 913 of these screens lined up side-by-side to show this whole map at once.

It was pretty interesting to see the scale of Jupiter in relation to it's moons.

[Jimbuna]

You would need 913 of these screens lined up side-by-side to show this whole map at once.

It was pretty interesting to see the scale of Jupiter in relation to it's moons.

Thank you professor :doh:

[Fr8monkey]

Kinda makes you feel really small...

To go to Alpha Centurai, then next nearest star, you would have to take the whole Sun to Pluto map and multiply that by 6,860!

[BrucePartington]

Mars is the farthest we can travel to with the current technology. Farther out (or in) will require Star Trek like tech: warp drive, shields, holodecks, even cryo tubes.
And of course, computers to play video games.
In order to take your mind away from the fact that you are traversing a mind boggling vast emptiness inside a metallic vessel you cannot exit, while time seems to have stopped, you can escape into playing, say, Silent Hunter, uninterrupted.

Interestingly, I got a different screen count of how many side by side screens the map would take up. It seems the map can detect your screen size/resolution.

[Wolferz]

I got all the way out to Pluto and my PC crashed.:timeout: Now I'm marooned on Pluto. Thanks Fr8monkey.:stare:

[Spoon 11th]

Enjoy the side scroll... (http://joshworth.com/dev/pixelspace/pixelspace_solarsystem.html)
Turn off CSS and you can scroll down.

[Jimbuna]

I got all the way out to Pluto and my PC crashed.:timeout: Now I'm marooned on Pluto. Thanks Fr8monkey.:stare:

That can't be all that bad, at least you got past Uranus :)

[Skybird]

Realising that essentially all that is - is nothingness, sometimes has a cathartic effect on me.

On other days, staring into this abyss - is pure horror.

All this many sights and places existing on worlds and moons, so monumental, so beautiful or awful - all of it so unmoved by our presence, so dead. What question we ever direct at the universe, what methods we try to approach it or try to attach any - our - meaning to it - the cosmos always remains silent.

We never get any answer. Sometimes we are so desperate that we flee into our fantasy, only to imagine an answer. Because otherwise we could not bear to live.

In a way, life and the fact that we exist and witness what we believe our senses are telling us, is a miracle. But one could as well say that at the same time it is a nightmare.

[Wolferz]

That was very existential, Skybird.:up: It reminded me of those warm summer nights on my grandfather's farm. Being out in the boonies where you could actually see most of the stars in the Milky Way and realizing just how small we are in this grand cosmos.:huh: We are like a grain of sand in the Sahara desert.:sunny:
Once you realize and accept that the universe is nothing expanding into something, then you can wear stripes with plaid without fear of repercussions.:yep:
Still, it seems like an awful waste of space.

[Tango589]

Realising that essentially all that is - is nothingness, sometimes has a cathartic effect on me.

On other days, staring into this abyss - is pure horror.

All this many sights and places existing on worlds and moons, so monumental, so beautiful or awful - all of it so unmoved by our presence, so dead. What question we ever direct at the universe, what methods we try to approach it or try to attach any - our - meaning to it - the cosmos always remains silent.

We never get any answer. Sometimes we are so desperate that we flee into our fantasy, only to imagine an answer. Because otherwise we could not bear to live.

In a way, life and the fact that we exist and witness what we believe our senses are telling us, is a miracle. But one could as well say that at the same time it is a nightmare.
Thanks for that up-beat assessment, I'm off to eat an antidepressant sandwich now.

[u crank]

Realising that essentially all that is - is nothingness, sometimes has a cathartic effect on me.


Still, it seems like an awful waste of space.

It's sometimes easy to look at the vastness of the Universe and see it as wasted space or unseen beauty. Of course this is a very human viewpoint and probably a faulty one. Who says it isn't being used or seen by someone else? I think we here on earth are fortunate just to be aware of our Universe and its beauty and complexity. The shear size is difficult to grasp but equally so is the fact that Human existence is a quick blink of an eye in its time frame.

I think it's a nice Universe. :D

Once you realize and accept that the universe is nothing expanding into something, then you can wear stripes with plaid without fear of repercussions.:yep:

:har:

[Skybird]

It probably needs a Monthy Python state of mind to settle one's own peace deal with an uncaring universe. :-?

[Skybird]

Thanks for that up-beat assessment, I'm off to eat an antidepressant sandwich now.

Squeeze a layer of honey and rum between both halfs. ;)

[Betonov]

It probably needs a Monthy Python state of mind to settle one's own peace deal with an uncaring universe. :-?

Or just don't think about it.

All the people I know, all the hobbies I have, all the boats I built, potholes hit, gasoline bought, lasagnas eaten, dodgeballs avoided, traffic sings stolen and peppers raised, my current dog, my late dog, my both living grandmothers and dead grandfathers, every Z, P, J and A's of my life are on this small abused blue marble.
Up there there's nothing I had or will have. No interest to ponder or settle ones own peace deal with an uncaring universe. I have a small caring universe on those 5 green pixels at 149793877 km. Anything else is a waste of neruotransmitters.


Don't get me wrong, I'm interested in astronomy, space travel and anything that will bring us to the stars. It's the phylosophical side of the vast emptynes of space I find unnecessary.

And my mind is always running on Monthy Python mode :O:

[Wolferz]

I'm space minded.
There's a whole universe between my ears.:haha:

[Jimbuna]

I'm space minded.
There's a whole universe between my ears.:haha:

So the rumours are true :hmmm:

:O:

[nikimcbee]

Thank you professor :doh:

There will be a test on Friday.:know:

Or just don't think about it.

All the people I know, all the hobbies I have, all the boats I built, potholes hit, gasoline bought, lasagnas eaten, dodgeballs avoided, traffic sings stolen and peppers raised, my current dog, my late dog, my both living grandmothers and dead grandfathers, every Z, P, J and A's of my life are on this small abused blue marble.
Up there there's nothing I had or will have. No interest to ponder or settle ones own peace deal with an uncaring universe. I have a small caring universe on those 5 green pixels at 149793877 km. Anything else is a waste of neruotransmitters.


Don't get me wrong, I'm interested in astronomy, space travel and anything that will bring us to the stars. It's the phylosophical side of the vast emptynes of space I find unnecessary.

And my mind is always running on Monthy Python mode :O:


I should have had this playing whilst I scrolled through space:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOKBGP1Ej6Y

[Betonov]

I should have had this playing whilst I scrolled through space:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOKBGP1Ej6Y

I had this :O:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhoa7oWPPhk

[Wolferz]

No Sprach Zarathustra?:)

[BrucePartington]

Still, it seems like an awful waste of space.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U-RbXdL2kcw/TZToJOHoecI/AAAAAAAACbE/7a8FLsACZNI/s320/contact_pic.jpg

[Wolferz]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U-RbXdL2kcw/TZToJOHoecI/AAAAAAAACbE/7a8FLsACZNI/s320/contact_pic.jpg

What does Tuna breath have to do with it?:O:

[BrucePartington]

Still, it seems like an awful waste of space.

What does Tuna breath have to do with it?:O:

I find it hard to believe haven't seen it :hmmm:
http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/assets/img/Sagan-Time-Travel/image-02-large.jpg

[Skybird]

In case I made anyone else depressive :), here is a nice acoustic anti-depressant. If this does not boost your energy level, then study the paper's death notices - chances are your name is listed somewhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLaPySDA4ks

That's what I call a concert final!

[Wolferz]

I find it hard to believe you haven't seen it :hmmm:

Oh, you were referring to the movie.:oops:

Yes I saw that one.

"I'm ok to go" and then she physically went nowhere but down. Or did she?:haha:

I wasn't aware that Carl Sagan wrote that novel. I learn something new every day. Thanks for that.:up:

[Jimbuna]

In case I made anyone else depressive :), here is a nice acoustic anti-depressant. If this does not boost your energy level, then study the paper's death notices - chances are your name is listed somewhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLaPySDA4ks

That's what I call a concert final!

One of my favourite songs from one of my favourite artists :sunny:

[Skybird]

I agree. Dido is - well, Dido. :D That one song, in that concert performance, really lights my candle. I have often switched it on when feeling low on a day. Was on afterburner for the rest of the day, usually. Her four CD's get listend through at least once per week, often twice.

I have seen her live in Germany, and I own the Brixton Live DVD. A concert that blows you away. Totally, absolutely, completely recommended DVD. Her 3rd and 4th album are different, riper, wiser. Different, but as good as the first two albums.

[BrucePartington]

Oh, you were referring to the movie.:oops:

Yes I saw that one.

"I'm ok to go" and then she physically went nowhere but down. Or did she?:haha:

I wasn't aware that Carl Sagan wrote that novel. I learn something new every day. Thanks for that.:up:
I have not read it, but here's some info on the book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_%28novel%29

As usual, Hollywood condenses and changes things for feasibility and box office revenue purposes.

If it happens one day, it will be the most significant moment after the appearance of microscopic life on this planet 4 billions years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vFwTJ44lFw

[NeonSamurai]

Here is an interesting little factoid. Did you know that most of the energy (delta-v) used in a space launch is spent on getting the craft into orbit around the earth, than going most places in the solar system (assuming you are doing it reasonably efficiently, and not trying for a close orbit with the sun). Getting into orbit is the hardest part, particularly as everything scales up exponentially.

Here is a cute little map of the delta-v costs
http://i.imgur.com/SqdzxzF.png

Just be aware the Dv listed for a planet is wrong for landing (those are takeoff values) if it has an atmosphere. Most of them would require almost no Dv as you can aerobrake and parachute down.

Another fun factoid. It takes less Dv to visit Deimos (Mars's outer moon), land on it, and then come back, than it does with our moon.