Yes, that makes sense. To me, the vastness comes from knowing how many stars are in the dark 'gaps' I can't see with my eyes. And knowing how many of the visibl

Yes, that makes sense. To me, the vastness comes from knowing how many stars are in the dark 'gaps' I can't see with my eyes. And knowing how many of the visible stars themselves have planets. We're getting the to point of exoplanet discovery where you can find a star with your eyes, know which one it is, and check to see how many planets orbit it. So when I look up at the night sky, I can almost see all the planets orbit all the stars up there, and all the moons around all those planets - and it is vast. Even just what you can see and imagine with your own eyes and head, it's vast. No need for looking through a telescope to get the sense of vastness - but perhaps you do need the knowledge that stuff is up there - even if you can't see it. okay, a showerthought: The ancients treated the stars and planets as Gods. And some of them have the same characteristics - they exist for seemingly eternity, or at least billions of years. They shine light and provide what is necessary for life to start, and for it to go on. They are always up there, 'above', 'watching' as it were (they send rays of light down to the planets, where it is partially absorbed and partially bounced back). And one day, when the Sun goes out, it will end the universe that exists on Earth. Based on what we know now, the ancients seemed to get a lot right in the actual nature of the stars.