6 ms·

The extent of the known Universe [video]

63 points by neya 15y ago

mrleinad 15y ago
So much left to explore.. So beautiful.. BTW, the name of the planetarium reminded me at first of Hadden. If you've read Contact, you'll understand what that name means.
- Craiggybear 15y ago
  We haven't even started exploring anything. Not even our own planet. In universe or galactic terms we simply don't even register.
darxius 15y ago
It's amazing to see exactly what we've been able to achieve. I never though we knew THAT much about our Universe. I would shake the hand of everyone who helped make it happen if I could. Also, I don't understand how you can look at how many planets there are and still say that it is impossible for there to be any intelligent life in the Universe.
- richworks 15y ago
  “Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.” - Calvin & Hobbes
joering2 15y ago
Thank you so much for sharing this! I sent it to some friends that keep saying "we are the only one in universe" and they keep quiet now, lol! Look at this and think about one small planet (Earth) and only on it you have six billion human-beings and every each of them has its own world... Watching how many billions of light years we need to "get out" is pretty sad at some point. I hope Gates would say "we will never need to travel with the speed of a light" :) </joke>
- neya 15y ago
  Yes, I agree with you, I share the same view too. Just imagine the possibilities..Even if you did a simple probability math, the answer would be obvious - You're not alone.
  - MrScruff 15y ago
    I'm not sure how probability math would help you, since we have no way of estimating the probability of intelligent life spontaneously occurring outside of our sample size of 1. What if the probability was 1x10^-80 ?
    - neya 15y ago
      Hah..I was thinking of something even simpler - Lets assume for simplicity, there is only one habitable planet in the entire Milkyway galaxy, Earth. And there are 'y' number of planets in Milkyway in total. Then, the probability of finding a habitable planet (Earth) in such a galaxy is 1/y. We know that the Milkyway isn't the only galaxy. Let there be totally 'z' no. of galaxies in this universe. Let the percentage of them being a galaxy like Milkyway (where there is a probability of finding a habitable planet) be 'x'. So there exists'x' percent of 'Z' number of Galaxies that may have 1 habitable planet each. Mathematically, thats (x/100)z. Honestly, analyzing (1/y) for each galaxy in (x/100)z should lead you to believe that there exist intelligent life forms apart from just earth. That's such a large number to ignore and it would not be appropriate to say that there exists only one planet, Earth with intelligent life form. I'm not saying this is correct, I'm just justifying what my logic tells me - There's a large chance that there are intelligent life forms elsewhere in the Universe. Why? Because, we are a living example part of the same Universe, so there's no reason why there couldn't be others like us.
      - joering2 15y ago
        +1. Good read, thanks. I actually wonder if we would ever make that contact (whether we or they) I wonder if they would be more advanced or less. Lets assume more - then it would be interesting to see if it took them more time to come up with solutions to certain problems we facing, and R&D of hard stuff like anti-gravity, etc. And then, even more interesting, how fast would our world change and what kind of implication on an average Joe would it had, if they would agree on sharing all those "secrets". It would be like putting entire human kind on fast forward into year 2,500. Imagine someone handing you a recipe book: Chapter 1. how to travel faster than light; Chapter 2. how to teleport goods and living organisms; 3. how to grow safe food loaded five times more with nutritions; Chapter 4. how to generate electricity without harming environment; Chapter 5. how to extend human life up to 250 years. Chapter 6. how to peacefully transform world into more friendly place :)
joell 15y ago
http://htwins.net/scale2/scale2.swf?bordercolor=white http://htwins.net/scale2/scale2.swf?bordercolor=white
slug 15y ago
The scale of the universe: http://htwins.net/scale2/ http://htwins.net/scale2/
- joering2 15y ago
  wow this was amazing!! thanks for sharing!! everyone with kids aboard should watch it!!
- iwwr 15y ago
  The estimated size of the universe beyond the visible part is at most a guess. It could be infinite. This would mean that even at the time of the big bang there was a lot of volume, just very high energy density. What we do know is that the part universe we live in has an event horizon. We can see distant objects as they looked in the past. The distance to those objects may be as much as 40-50bn light years now, due to the expansion of space. And if we ventured to travel, even at the speed of light, there are sections of the universe visible now that will fall out of view, and we therefore never reach. If the universe is accelerating, the region of possible travel will shrink. So we have a so-called "visible universe", a region we can observe or directly infer the effects of. Then there is the "accessible universe", the region we could travel in at the speed of light. All this embedded in a presumably larger, but inaccessible universe.
xd 15y ago
Whenever I hear someone talking about the scale of the universe I just can't help but bang on about the Hubble ultra deep field picture: http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2004/07 http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2004/07 If you can look at this picture and "get it", it will blow your mind. It's no wonder people call it the most important picture humanity has ever taken.
- zerohp 15y ago
  I usually think of the Pale Blue Dot photograph. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot
- knowaveragejoe 15y ago
  Not a plug for Nikon, but they do put out a pretty awesome interactive "scale of the universe" thing. The attention to detail is noticably more than the htwins one. You can find it here: http://www.nikon.com/about/feelnikon/universcale/index.htm http://www.nikon.com/about/feelnikon/universcale/index.htm
feefie 15y ago
I feel so lowbrow, but sometimes a catchy toon that appeals to a wide audience can convey more than one might imagine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_J5rBxeTIk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_J5rBxeTIk
ck2 15y ago
Now imagine the theory of ultra-massive black holes creating white-holes on the other side, essentially our "big bang", and that each one is creating another universe just like this one. Repeating probably like a fractal where we are just a point the tree. Staggering.
joering2 15y ago
since we are on the "space" subject and I dont feel its worth new HN thread, but same time would love to pick up your brain; what do we see here? dust on a lenses??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjjftMK2HHM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjjftMK2HHM appreciate your comments
siavosh 15y ago
Can someone explain why there are large sections of the universe that are unmapped?
- RomP 15y ago
  Obscured, mostly by our own galaxy.
losethos 15y ago
God says... soul to take it. 24:12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 24:13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 24:14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 24:15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. ---- God wants you to go microscopic, now. God says... Canticles accept fornicating ftp shameful sex INCIDENTAL scourge assign dimensions oblation blush speechless shady gladdens wretched proveth drop Egyptian adulterous Bridegroom spirits tediousness proportion discoursed parents asked replace Chatto Mother texts gnawing foot conscious public inordinate vintage faster affection soughtest affirmed cure stumble PUBLIC equipment confesses burn Heal expenses attempted instruct playing shipwreck stretching cleaveth unharmonising warned Divers C mind That discussion counselled TM revolt vital fleshly rent contemporary findest momentous inharmonious perish Volunteers carelessly masses Newsletters inanimate Catiline fastings tumultuously unhesitatingly opinion FOR impurity lesson digest evidently Passing an number forbid slothful correspondence right becoming invest Go exhorting Troy clear rapture engine proudly gaining digest strictness production Nevertheless auditor maid bewitched used gleams concupiscence any writing necessary stung REMEDIES secret readier fighting acts neglecting tree tribulation Whereupon done forth sinner salvation
draggnar 15y ago
Why is the current furthest mapping not in all directions? Is that because of the north and south poles?

63 points by neya 15y ago

So much left to explore.. So beautiful.. BTW, the name of the planetarium reminded me at first of Hadden. If you've read Contact, you'll understand what that name means.

Craiggybear 15y ago
We haven't even started exploring anything. Not even our own planet. In universe or galactic terms we simply don't even register.

darxius 15y ago

It's amazing to see exactly what we've been able to achieve. I never though we knew THAT much about our Universe. I would shake the hand of everyone who helped make it happen if I could. Also, I don't understand how you can look at how many planets there are and still say that it is impossible for there to be any intelligent life in the Universe.

richworks 15y ago
“Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.” - Calvin & Hobbes

joering2 15y ago

Thank you so much for sharing this! I sent it to some friends that keep saying "we are the only one in universe" and they keep quiet now, lol! Look at this and think about one small planet (Earth) and only on it you have six billion human-beings and every each of them has its own world... Watching how many billions of light years we need to "get out" is pretty sad at some point. I hope Gates would say "we will never need to travel with the speed of a light" :) </joke>

neya 15y ago
Yes, I agree with you, I share the same view too. Just imagine the possibilities..Even if you did a simple probability math, the answer would be obvious - You're not alone.
- MrScruff 15y ago
  I'm not sure how probability math would help you, since we have no way of estimating the probability of intelligent life spontaneously occurring outside of our sample size of 1. What if the probability was 1x10^-80 ?
  - neya 15y ago
    Hah..I was thinking of something even simpler - Lets assume for simplicity, there is only one habitable planet in the entire Milkyway galaxy, Earth. And there are 'y' number of planets in Milkyway in total. Then, the probability of finding a habitable planet (Earth) in such a galaxy is 1/y. We know that the Milkyway isn't the only galaxy. Let there be totally 'z' no. of galaxies in this universe. Let the percentage of them being a galaxy like Milkyway (where there is a probability of finding a habitable planet) be 'x'. So there exists'x' percent of 'Z' number of Galaxies that may have 1 habitable planet each. Mathematically, thats (x/100)z. Honestly, analyzing (1/y) for each galaxy in (x/100)z should lead you to believe that there exist intelligent life forms apart from just earth. That's such a large number to ignore and it would not be appropriate to say that there exists only one planet, Earth with intelligent life form. I'm not saying this is correct, I'm just justifying what my logic tells me - There's a large chance that there are intelligent life forms elsewhere in the Universe. Why? Because, we are a living example part of the same Universe, so there's no reason why there couldn't be others like us.
    - joering2 15y ago
      +1. Good read, thanks. I actually wonder if we would ever make that contact (whether we or they) I wonder if they would be more advanced or less. Lets assume more - then it would be interesting to see if it took them more time to come up with solutions to certain problems we facing, and R&D of hard stuff like anti-gravity, etc. And then, even more interesting, how fast would our world change and what kind of implication on an average Joe would it had, if they would agree on sharing all those "secrets". It would be like putting entire human kind on fast forward into year 2,500. Imagine someone handing you a recipe book: Chapter 1. how to travel faster than light; Chapter 2. how to teleport goods and living organisms; 3. how to grow safe food loaded five times more with nutritions; Chapter 4. how to generate electricity without harming environment; Chapter 5. how to extend human life up to 250 years. Chapter 6. how to peacefully transform world into more friendly place :)

joell 15y ago

http://htwins.net/scale2/scale2.swf?bordercolor=white http://htwins.net/scale2/scale2.swf?bordercolor=white

slug 15y ago

The scale of the universe: http://htwins.net/scale2/ http://htwins.net/scale2/

joering2 15y ago
wow this was amazing!! thanks for sharing!! everyone with kids aboard should watch it!!
iwwr 15y ago
The estimated size of the universe beyond the visible part is at most a guess. It could be infinite. This would mean that even at the time of the big bang there was a lot of volume, just very high energy density. What we do know is that the part universe we live in has an event horizon. We can see distant objects as they looked in the past. The distance to those objects may be as much as 40-50bn light years now, due to the expansion of space. And if we ventured to travel, even at the speed of light, there are sections of the universe visible now that will fall out of view, and we therefore never reach. If the universe is accelerating, the region of possible travel will shrink. So we have a so-called "visible universe", a region we can observe or directly infer the effects of. Then there is the "accessible universe", the region we could travel in at the speed of light. All this embedded in a presumably larger, but inaccessible universe.

xd 15y ago

Whenever I hear someone talking about the scale of the universe I just can't help but bang on about the Hubble ultra deep field picture: http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2004/07 http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2004/07 If you can look at this picture and "get it", it will blow your mind. It's no wonder people call it the most important picture humanity has ever taken.

zerohp 15y ago
I usually think of the Pale Blue Dot photograph. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot
knowaveragejoe 15y ago
Not a plug for Nikon, but they do put out a pretty awesome interactive "scale of the universe" thing. The attention to detail is noticably more than the htwins one. You can find it here: http://www.nikon.com/about/feelnikon/universcale/index.htm http://www.nikon.com/about/feelnikon/universcale/index.htm

feefie 15y ago

I feel so lowbrow, but sometimes a catchy toon that appeals to a wide audience can convey more than one might imagine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_J5rBxeTIk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_J5rBxeTIk

ck2 15y ago

Now imagine the theory of ultra-massive black holes creating white-holes on the other side, essentially our "big bang", and that each one is creating another universe just like this one. Repeating probably like a fractal where we are just a point the tree. Staggering.

joering2 15y ago

since we are on the "space" subject and I dont feel its worth new HN thread, but same time would love to pick up your brain; what do we see here? dust on a lenses??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjjftMK2HHM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjjftMK2HHM appreciate your comments

siavosh 15y ago

Can someone explain why there are large sections of the universe that are unmapped?

RomP 15y ago
Obscured, mostly by our own galaxy.

losethos 15y ago

God says... soul to take it. 24:12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 24:13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 24:14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 24:15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. ---- God wants you to go microscopic, now. God says... Canticles accept fornicating ftp shameful sex INCIDENTAL scourge assign dimensions oblation blush speechless shady gladdens wretched proveth drop Egyptian adulterous Bridegroom spirits tediousness proportion discoursed parents asked replace Chatto Mother texts gnawing foot conscious public inordinate vintage faster affection soughtest affirmed cure stumble PUBLIC equipment confesses burn Heal expenses attempted instruct playing shipwreck stretching cleaveth unharmonising warned Divers C mind That discussion counselled TM revolt vital fleshly rent contemporary findest momentous inharmonious perish Volunteers carelessly masses Newsletters inanimate Catiline fastings tumultuously unhesitatingly opinion FOR impurity lesson digest evidently Passing an number forbid slothful correspondence right becoming invest Go exhorting Troy clear rapture engine proudly gaining digest strictness production Nevertheless auditor maid bewitched used gleams concupiscence any writing necessary stung REMEDIES secret readier fighting acts neglecting tree tribulation Whereupon done forth sinner salvation

draggnar 15y ago

Why is the current furthest mapping not in all directions? Is that because of the north and south poles?