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The nearest star, other than our sun, is 4 light years away. So even if we could travel at the speed of light, which we can't yet, it would take 4 years to get there.
That's the NEAREST star (well, second nearest).
The furthest star, that we can see (sort of... we're aware of, due to fluctuations in light) is 9 BILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY.
And that's just what is observable with current technology. There's obviously way more than that.
Our brains can't comprehend how big space is... even the observable space, let alone what we can't see.
It's crazy how tiny we are, with all our petty squabbles, football teams, wars, pandemics. If feels weird to say all this has no meaning, it just exists, it just is. But then what meaning does most of space have for us anyway, when it's too far away to interact with? And what meaning do humans have, any more than the last ant you saw, in the whole of space?
All we can truly say is there's something bloody weird going on.
I may have lockdown fever. I may have had some wine.
Space is mental isn't it? on 12:57 - May 8 by Bugs
There is also the very plausible possibility we live in a single universe out of an infinite multiverse.
If you put many worlds theory in there as well, our universe(as well as all the others) could well be splitting off down different paths billions of times a second. When Schrodinger opened his box with the cat in in it, in one reality the cat was dead, but in another it was alive. Both could well be real. Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime by Sean Carroll talks about this. I won't pretend I got it all, but it's a fascinating read.
I dont think we can say thats a possibility let alone a plausible one. Its a hypothesis- btu we haev no idea currently whether its possible. At best, I think we can say we dont know it to be impossible.
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
(Sir Terry Pratchett)
And what is also equally amazing is that our knowledge and understanding of space is relatively new in terms of our human existence on this planet and is perpetuated by a few hundred years (human years) of modern technology. We probably know about 0.00000000000001% (if that) about it. Mad!
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Space is mental isn't it? on 10:09 - May 9 with 316 views
Space is mental isn't it? on 10:09 - May 9 by Swansea_Blue
"9 billion light years away". That's how most Greater Anglia journeys feel.
Fascinating stuff although I'm fairly ignorant. I've half thought a few times about getting a telescope to see if I can get the kids interested.
[Post edited 9 May 2020 10:10]
Whilst telescopes are interesting- the reality is that once you have seen the moon- its really mainly blurry dots in the sky without something pretty expensive.
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
(Sir Terry Pratchett)
Space is mental isn't it? on 10:15 - May 9 by sparks
Whilst telescopes are interesting- the reality is that once you have seen the moon- its really mainly blurry dots in the sky without something pretty expensive.
You can see Saturn's rings and moons with a not-too-expensive telescope.
Space is mental isn't it? on 10:58 - May 9 by sparks
They are still blurry smudges though- and once you ahve seen it once- that is done.
I suspect most kids will say "cool" for 10 minutes, but that will be the end!
I never tire of watching Jupiter's moons change positions.
Perhaps I am just odd though and also not a kid.
In general you are right though, need to spend decent money to make viewing a truly rewarding experience along with having the right conditions. Unfortunately I've not met either of those criteria.
SB
Avatar - IC410 - Tadpoles Nebula
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Space is mental isn't it? on 11:31 - May 9 with 284 views
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