James Webb telescope

[Gofer Blue]

The first pictures have just been published:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62122859

Absolutely stunning. The distances involved are mind-boggling.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: James Webb telescope

The first pictures have just been published:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62122859

Absolutely stunning. The distances involved are mind-boggling.

Such things should make us realise how incredibly parochial we are, living on just one of the trillion planets in our universe - and it's estimated that there are trillions of galaxies in the universe.

[JamesWales]

Re: James Webb telescope

Space isn't really my thing - once you realise how vast the distances are, it is hard to comprehend it all. And also, I'll never go there. I don't even really know whats bigger -a galaxy? A universe? What's the milky way? How does that fit in?

Is there a useful kind of map or chart that visually demonstrates all these things to highlight what TBG and Gofer rightly say above about how small and insignificant etc we are?

[lardy]

Re: James Webb telescope

Space isn't really my thing - once you realise how vast the distances are, it is hard to comprehend it all. And also, I'll never go there. I don't even really know whats bigger -a galaxy? A universe? What's the milky way? How does that fit in?

Is there a useful kind of map or chart that visually demonstrates all these things to highlight what TBG and Gofer rightly say above about how small and insignificant etc we are?

You don't know if a galaxy or a universe is bigger?

[JamesWales]

Re: James Webb telescope

You don't know if a galaxy or a universe is bigger?

Nope. I'd guess universe?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: James Webb telescope

Space isn't really my thing - once you realise how vast the distances are, it is hard to comprehend it all. And also, I'll never go there. I don't even really know whats bigger -a galaxy? A universe? What's the milky way? How does that fit in?

Is there a useful kind of map or chart that visually demonstrates all these things to highlight what TBG and Gofer rightly say above about how small and insignificant etc we are?

As a young kid, I used to imagine sitting on the moon and looking at Earth and knowing that people had different languages, customs and religions depending on when and where they were born on this planet. That attempt at an overview has never left me but I didn't have any concept of just how tiny our speck of dust is in respect of the firmament as a whole - and let's not imagine that this speck of dust will be habitable ad infinitum.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: James Webb telescope

Nope. I'd guess universe?

There was a clue: "and it's estimated that there are trillions of galaxies in the universe."

[caerkid]

Re: James Webb telescope

Space isn't really my thing - once you realise how vast the distances are, it is hard to comprehend it all. And also, I'll never go there. I don't even really know whats bigger -a galaxy? A universe? What's the milky way? How does that fit in?

Is there a useful kind of map or chart that visually demonstrates all these things to highlight what TBG and Gofer rightly say above about how small and insignificant etc we are?

Would suggest starting here (and especially the last line):

https://youtu.be/buqtdpuZxvk

[Rjk]

Re: James Webb telescope

Nope. I'd guess universe?

do you mean metric or imperial galaxies?

[Dorcus]

Re: James Webb telescope

Such things should make us realise how incredibly parochial we are, living on just one of the trillion planets in our universe - and it's estimated that there are trillions of galaxies in the universe.

Some studies suggest there's likely to be at least a septillion stars in the universe, let alone planets which would on average raise the figure by a billion or two! So it's quite possible there may be at least 10^27 planets in the visible universe. Of course the other parts of the universe we can never see will contain an awful lot more. This is the chief reason I don't believe in the Rare Earth hypothesis.

[JamesWales]

Re: James Webb telescope

There was a clue: "and it's estimated that there are trillions of galaxies in the universe."

I missed that bit cos my brain just processed it as someone rabbiting on about space again.. which is probably how I got in this mess.

I enjoyed the film gravity and made lego space ships as a kid but thats as far as I get with space.

[Rjk]

Re: James Webb telescope

https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/alien-civilization

[delmbox]

Re: James Webb telescope

I missed that bit cos my brain just processed it as someone rabbiting on about space again.. which is probably how I got in this mess.

I enjoyed the film gravity and made lego space ships as a kid but thats as far as I get with space.

Saw this the other day, which was a bit of an eyeopener

https://www.tiktok.com/@flamingo6686/video/7104389679956364550?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en&q=speed%20of%20light&t=1657629470646

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: James Webb telescope

I missed that bit cos my brain just processed it as someone rabbiting on about space again.. which is probably how I got in this mess.

I enjoyed the film gravity and made lego space ships as a kid but thats as far as I get with space.

You cannot be Sirius!

[Tuerto]

Re: James Webb telescope

You don't know if a galaxy or a universe is bigger?

To be fair, Cadbury never made a 'Universe' chocolate bar so it's impossible to compare really.