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all 113 comments

[–]AlaskaDK 45 points46 points ago

The only reason i would want to be immortal is to be able to discover all those different planets.

[–]alterzax 22 points23 points ago

I wish I could be alive when/if we start to colonize space

[–]hobenscoben 23 points24 points ago

I get a little sad every time I see stuff like this and realize that we probably missed out on the chance to really explore and know what's out there. Then again, im posting this from a tiny handheld computer that would blow the minds of everyone from just fifty years ago so I guess that's pretty cool.

[–]xMIASMAx 11 points12 points ago

Well I feel a tiny bit better now.

[–]iamdanhi 2 points3 points ago*

Well if you're somewhat young there is a pretty good chance you'll have the opportunity to get to visit space before you die. Its not us having a full out presence in space, you know ships, sending missions far away and stuff but its still pretty awesome. But still I think now is an awesome time to be alive too. The last 100 years have been amazing, even from when I was born 1989 things have change so much and I'm looking forward to the next 20 years and beyond.

[–]hobenscoben 1 point2 points ago

I'm the same age as you. We're going to see some crazy stuff in our lifetimes. I'm pretty pumped.

[–]iamdanhi 1 point2 points ago

Me too. Its already crazy that so many that didn't exist in 2000 are already taken for granted. I was so pumped when I was in high school and got the first t-mobile sidekick, with its crappy browser, as a cell phone when it came out. Now I have Grand Theft Auto 3 on my phone and it plays it like nothing. Crazy stuff and that just regarding cell phones. Its going to be awesome.

[–]Mako_Eyes 2 points3 points ago

Aw come on, that can't be the ONLY reason.

[–]AlaskaDK 1 point2 points ago

Well it depends if everyone else is immortal or not, because i don't wanna see generations of people i love die

[–][deleted] 35 points36 points ago

Surprised no one linked the Video. BTW not 4 months...10 days.

[–]xladiciusx 29 points30 points ago*

the inaccuracies in this gif are astounding. a trillion stars in each galaxy? no. more like 300 billion. all the galaxies more than 13 billion light years away? no, but an immense distance, nonetheless. it wasn't pointed for 4 months, either. it was pointed into the deep field for 150 consecutive orbits, with each orbit taking approximately 97 minutes. whoever made this did little to no research and tried to enhance something that is so astonishing it need not be altered. son i am disappoint.

[–]gimme_name 2 points3 points ago

To someone who seems to be informed: Why should the big galaxy not exist acording to physical laws?

[–]EricTheWeirdo 1 point2 points ago

According to physical laws, our own galaxy shouldn't be able to hold itself together.

[–]gimme_name 1 point2 points ago

That's not an answer.

Is that the dark matter / dark energy story?

[–]xladiciusx 1 point2 points ago

ok, here we go - that isn't the biggest galaxy in the universe. the biggest galaxy in the universe doesn't appear to bend the laws of physics, rather, it and other galaxies can be so massive that gravitational lensing can occur. gravitational lensing is when photons passing by a mass are actually bent around the space-time continuum. einstein was the one to prove this in (i think) 1912 during a solar eclipse. two stars of a known distance apart were observed during the solar eclipse. imagine standing on earth and the sun is between you and the two stars being observed. due to the gravitational lensing, the distance of the stars appeared to be greater than when they were observed under normal circumstances. so, when we look at a galaxy with an astonishing amount of mass, the light from behind it can be distorted, which alters our perception a bit.
he did mention dark matter, but there wasn't enough time to get into that area of discussion.
that's the best i have from a brief description. i hope it helps enough to point you in the right direction.

[–]gimme_name 1 point2 points ago

Gravitational lensing is something I know.

I think the problem is what is mentioned here. But I am not sure if EricTheWeirdo meant this. But thanks for your help and stay curious.

[–]xladiciusx 0 points1 point ago

i don't have that level of physics knowledge yet. i'm only in my first year physics, calc2, etc. i am, however, just about to go to my astronomy class. i will ask this question and bring the answer back to you this afternoon.

[–]DirtBurglar 0 points1 point ago

I got suspicious when I saw 1/10th the area of the moon.

[–]r_slash 1 point2 points ago

What's wrong with this part? He's talking about angular area from the perspective of the telescope, not some absolute size.

[–]DirtBurglar 0 points1 point ago

In that picture, does that look like 1/10th the area? The edges of the square each look about 1/10 the diameter of the moon, more or less. That makes the area of the moon 3.14x and the area of the square .04x

[–]Splinter1010 86 points87 points ago

This actually makes me stunned, just completely speechless. I can't comprehend how much there is in existence. It's as difficult as fully comprehending zero, and is comprehending infinity. It's an impossibility to realize just how insignificant I am. I could die right now, be in local newspapers for a day or two depending on how I die, leave my family and friends morning for a while, nothing else. I'm on a small planet orbiting a completely average star surrounded by other stars, and our entire solar system, our entire galaxy, our planet, has no significance besides supporting life. And I happened to be born. It completely stuns me.

[–]RaichuALoveS0ng 48 points49 points ago

Probably last thoughts of 99% of suicides.

[–]mastersergeant98 8 points9 points ago

Sad but true...

[–]Callmeballs 12 points13 points ago

He speaks from experience

[–]RaichuALoveS0ng 4 points5 points ago

Meh, can't say thinking about it isn't depressing.

[–]Splinter1010 0 points1 point ago

Oh god you're right. I thought similar things when I attempted suicide before...

[–]IByrdl 8 points9 points ago

I'm going to quote this in court as to why I shouldn't have to pay the speeding ticket I got this morning.

[–]Splinter1010 0 points1 point ago

I'm flattered.

[–]Iwokeupwithoutapillo 14 points15 points ago

lol, grab a snickers

[–]ast03 5 points6 points ago

our star isnt even average, its on the smaller side.

[–]Splinter1010 2 points3 points ago

All the more reason to every day bask in the beauty oof life.

[–]The_Cannon_Noise 0 points1 point ago

Thank god it is too.

[–]russkev 3 points4 points ago

The question is, would it make a difference if we were much larger or the universe much smaller?

[–]Ryanami 1 point2 points ago

Hmm, yes... Huh, hmm... Wow, fuckin'a man...

[–]Splinter1010 0 points1 point ago

You've got me stumped there.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

well typed.

[–]Splinter1010 0 points1 point ago

Thank you.

[–]KittyPitty 0 points1 point ago

We are so insignificant...

[–]Splinter1010 0 points1 point ago

Incredibally so.

[–]alman520 0 points1 point ago

Does anyone else get depressed when they see things about the vastness of space? It's basically somebody saying that there is all of this kick-ass stuff out there and that I'll never be able to explore it.

[–]Splinter1010 2 points3 points ago

It is depressing, but at the same time uplifting. I am alive. Millions of years of evolution, countless atoms, countless planets, and I am alive.

[–]Dr_Roidberg 17 points18 points ago

The full resolution image for those interested.

[–]DirtBurglar 4 points5 points ago

This picture is even better than what you can find in r/gw

[–]ammb 0 points1 point ago

The variety of colors just astounds me.

[–]chudapati09 14 points15 points ago*

It makes you wonder, what is actually out there. With all this, we can't be the only living intelligent species, it wouldn't make sense.

EDIT: Spelling

[–][deleted] 13 points14 points ago

Mind bottling. My mind's in a bottle.

[–]pocketchange2247 8 points9 points ago

Now look at the universe in the opposite direction of this gif. Go to microscopic levels and even beyond that to find atoms, then beyond these atoms are neutrons and electrons and what not, then beyond that a smaller building block of matter. Numbers in the universe range from an infinitely enormous scale that reach values you will never fully be able to put into perspective.

[–]scribeofmedicine 3 points4 points ago

Don't forget the ocean. We don't know SHIT about the ocean and it's smaller than the size of our planet! There are TONS of organisms, ENTIRE ORGANISMS, that have yet to be discovered in the ocean.

[–]Rhinio 7 points8 points ago

... and where is this high rez photo I was promised...?

[–]GreyscaleCheese 11 points12 points ago

"a still more glorious dawn awaits not a sun rise, but a galaxy rise" - carl sagan

[–]pheonixblade9 3 points4 points ago

fuck, I finally understand why Reddit orgasms over Carl Sagan

[–]strikethat_reverseit 4 points5 points ago*

This is so perfect. I saw this while studying for my Astrophysics final, we went over this in class along with so many other random facts that would blow my mind and leave me contemplative and sometimes dare I say... emotional.

[–]MomoPeacheZ 5 points6 points ago

This is absolutely amazing. Actually, no. Amazing doesn't even begin to describe this.

[–]b0xcu77er 4 points5 points ago

Can I get source for this?

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago

Thank you for the greatly inspirational gif, people may hate but this is the first time I have seen this and... Well... Me gusta.

[–]lessonplan 3 points4 points ago*

Man. If you want to feel small. If you want to feel tiny and full of awe at the mercy of the vastness of the universe... watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgg2tpUVbXQ&feature=plcp

edit: ah, he made a prettier HD one, though it's not as well narrated http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAVjF_7ensg&feature=plcp

but without Shine On you Crazy Diamond in the beginning :(

[–]russkev -1 points0 points ago

I LOVE the first video, watched it many times. The music and narration work so well. I really wish there was a HD version of it.

[–]donpapillon 3 points4 points ago

This is why I wish I was a cosmic god. Imagine travelling at lightspeed and beyond, through countless galaxies, stars, planets, nebulas, black holes, quazars, pulsars, twin stars, and so much more that we have no clue about. Reach the end of the universe and see if there's something beyond. Understand dimensions beyond the third. See through all the layers of time and different possibilities at once, not bound by the chains of our time perspective. Seeing in microscopic, atomic and subatomic levels, all the amazing things that happen there as well.

That's why I respect scientists so much. They are almost like cosmic gods.

[–]heyheylove_87 3 points4 points ago

Dude, this stuff gives me panic attacks when I think about how we are probably a tiny pretty dot on someone else's crazy cool telescope photo, just like this.

[–]astr0nomer 1 point2 points ago

We aren't even a dot. Our SUN would just be a smear of light in a galaxy.

[–]PigPen220 6 points7 points ago

This gave me the kind of chills that reach the depths of your being... equal parts awe, fear, hope and disappointment.

[–]alterzax -1 points0 points ago

Awe, fear, and hope I can understand, but disappointment?

[–]xMIASMAx 3 points4 points ago

I'll never know what's there. That left me disappointed.

[–]PigPen220 0 points1 point ago

It just disappoints me to know that, in my lifetime, I will only see a fraction of what humanity will learn, create and discover.

[–]Caboose127 6 points7 points ago

As a Christian, the thing that is so unbelievable about this is not that it suggests an existence of more than 6000 (I'm nowhere near dense enough to believe that), what is most unbelievable to me is that some Christians are actually self-centered enough to believe that we as the inhabitants of this planet are somehow unique or favored in the midst of all of this.

[–]Downvote_Depository 0 points1 point ago

Turns out, Jesus visited every inhabited planet everywhere 2000 years ago.

[–]The_Vision_of_Sound 2 points3 points ago

Isn't VY Canis Majoris the largest known star?

[–]julianface 2 points3 points ago

"lol grab a snickers"

classic

[–]Apparentable 2 points3 points ago*

Relevant and otherwise pretty awesome. http://htwins.net/scale2/

[–]relidar 1 point2 points ago

That is pure awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[–]TheChrisHill 3 points4 points ago

This seriously almost makes me cry because of how fucking awesome science is.

[–]wholovesburritos 6 points7 points ago

Space onions, man. I felt it too.

[–]SenorDragon 1 point2 points ago

Well at least we know that no galaxy's have the ability to get to other galaxy's. Or maybe they're just avoiding earth

[–]xMIASMAx 2 points3 points ago

Wouldn't you?

[–]erinrathbun 1 point2 points ago

it reminds me of this only on a much MUCH larger scale. but still, scares the shit out of me and intrigues me all the same.

[–]Bambi_88 1 point2 points ago

I am in absolute awe. Stunning, mind blowing and ever so slightly terrifying at the same time.

[–]Synikull 1 point2 points ago

"A long time ago in a galaxy far far away" is disturbingly relevant...

[–]Silversol99 2 points3 points ago

Star Wars was actually a documentary.

[–]JxFTW 1 point2 points ago

Galaxies, Galaxies everywhere.

[–]heavyliftderrick 1 point2 points ago

You swine - you broke my brain

[–]threwitawaynow 1 point2 points ago

The fact that we need a .gif like this in order to feel insignificant just shows how arrogant we are as a species.

[–]aiden93 1 point2 points ago

While this is all amazing, I have to say I was expecting something to jump out and scare me.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

I like to look at like this, no matter how bad you fuck up in life, just remember it's so insignificant it doesn't matter.

[–]VicariousHades4 -1 points0 points ago

.....and Christians still claim to know the origin of the Universe

[–]Aqualung90 37 points38 points ago

SO FUCKING BRAVE

[–]sambachild 1 point2 points ago

Why do you have to ruin everything?

[–]Ryanami 1 point2 points ago

...and Atheists still claim to know it all came from nothing, for no reason.

[–]NFresh6 2 points3 points ago

...and people still claim to know anything about the origin of the Universe. No one on Earth knows where this all came from or why.

[–]Ryanami 0 points1 point ago

How do you know that? You'd have to know all human knowledge to know that nobody knows. Besides, a god who creates the universe is definitely able to tell conscious beings that he did it. Maybe he told some of them. Bible says God has told everyone a little bit about himself, but many pretend they didn't get the memo.

[–]TheMechaUnicorn 1 point2 points ago

I never claimed that.

[–]Dessdo 0 points1 point ago

And THIS is why I believe it to be a strange thought, that we should be the only "intelligent" life in this universe..

[–]mollshenanigans 0 points1 point ago

This was mindblowing.

[–]ValiantTurtle19 0 points1 point ago

Anyone else hesitate before looking at what the Hubble saw? Or have I just seen so many to know from experience?

[–]rodzr 0 points1 point ago

Sometimes I wish an UFO abducted me. Even if I get my anus probed, fuck it. I would be willing to give it up to visit other places in the universe.

[–]Siethron 0 points1 point ago

All these galaxies are most likely giant black holes or dead in another way by now.

[–]Kilerazn 0 points1 point ago

For some reason this just got me depressed...or overwhelmed...or irrelevant.. I can't tell.

[–]joneill1 0 points1 point ago

Think about it. There are infinite possibilities of life out there. Like Pokemon.

I was born in the wrong galaxy...

[–]admiraljohn 0 points1 point ago

After you watch this gif, watch this and then shake your head in sadness at the fact that the US doesn't care about exploring anymore.

[–]michaelsong55 0 points1 point ago

i have seen this thing a million times and i still watch it, and it keeps blowing my mind

[–]beefcoon 0 points1 point ago

Qw.ll

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

Honestly, this doesn't make me feel small. Here's why... the numbers part of my brain realizes that these are BIG distances and sizes, but the human mind isn't designed to understand things on this scale. We're designed to understand "wow those mountains are really far away... that's like... 200km from here".

So part of me recognizes "wow that star is big" but my brain can't conceptualize something of that size.

[–]imkidding -1 points0 points ago

Jesus Christ...

[–]LordPhantom -2 points-1 points ago

The true question is does the universe end? And if it does, what's outside of that?

[–]thereddaikon 0 points1 point ago

trying to think about things that we cannot comprehend can be fun but they can also be extremely frustrating. If you are high you will just have your mind blown.

[–]themauwinator -1 points0 points ago

Where is your god now?

[–]glawton -1 points0 points ago

ts:dr

[–]MrDudeRI -1 points0 points ago

That's what she said...

[–]omgbeees -2 points-1 points ago

Holy shit speed up that text...

[–]albsaint -2 points-1 points ago*

When i was young.. I always wanted to have ability to lift into space (think superman). Then i would think how i would die of gas ( i was old enough to know that i would suffocate) so i knew i would have to have an hero robe what has a shield. Like a film of thickness around me. This robe would allow me to breath but gas could not penetrate it. I know, i was a genius. Then i was thinking while i was there it could get cold,so now my robe would be thermal resistant. Oh and i could pee out of it too.. However i would stop fantasizing in fear that if i realized this dream and maybe if i do get this lucky, upon my journey to discover space would be the end of earth. I always ended my thoughts with alien life force discovering/noticing me running around like a happy child and follow me all the way back home.Maybe we live at a "neighborhood" that no alien has noticed. Now they found earth because of me. Being way more advance than us, we die. I always feel that we might find what we looking for and not like it.

Now, much older i still think of it as a pessimist. i believe if i do go flying freely, my body mass will react with near by objects and probably re-route a comet to hit earth. Someone cheer me up damn it!

On this topic : We can't possibly be alone in this amazing universe! Great post.