The known universe

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This brilliant film is making the rounds. I found mine over at A Pacific View. Here's the comment I left there after seeing this video:

Absolutely stunning video! Finally one that clearly gave me an idea of scale. Especially going back home. If any aliens are visiting us, it must be purely by accident, because finding us is like finding a needle in a haystack. Or more like finding a partial needle in a 1000 haystacks. Thanks for posting this, Tom!

So if you aren't impressed with the story of three wise men following a star, this journey through the stars ought to give you a nice sense of awe (play the HD version at full screen for best effect!):

Comments

Anonymous said…
well, we are all retarded thinking of ourselves as "something or anything" important. especially in this time of the year with the "dude on the cross, his father in heaven" etc. we are not a human race, we are race of idiots knowing nothing. how refreshing.
December 27, 2009 10:45 AM
Lou Minatti said…
Merry Christmas, Keera!
December 28, 2009 5:59 AM
Keera Ann Fox said…
Thanks, Lou! The same to you!
December 28, 2009 8:21 AM
SolSionnach said…
Just wow. I didn't really get the sense of scale like you did; I actually prefer the one that shows the various sizes of the stars. I guess the idea that it took light "x" number of years to get to a certain distance from the sun doesn't really speak to me.

I was struck by how far away from the earth the Moon orbits... as well as the forested side of the Himalayas vs. the northern, desert side.
January 03, 2010 12:23 AM
Keera Ann Fox said…
The numbers weren't what gave me my moment of awe. It was the visual going back home that made it clear to me just how tiny we are in the vastness of space.

The Gobi desert exists because of the rain shadow of the Himalayas. It is fascinating to get a satellite-view of the region, isn't it?
January 03, 2010 12:34 PM
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