Kinda makes me feel...insignificant - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

tecoyah · 06-05-2006, 02:12 AM

If you were standing on the surface of mars, on a clear night. You might get lucky and see a faint star in the night sky.....A faded light blue dot on the black canvas of frigid midnight.....and everyone you have ever known is on it.

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimed...s_to_Earth.jpg

healer · 06-05-2006, 03:04 AM

A definite reality check.

Charlatan · 06-05-2006, 05:28 AM

I love it!

I am used to seeing the orange dot in the sky that is Mars... it's very cool to see the reverse angle.

JumpinJesus · 06-05-2006, 05:58 AM

As a kid, one of the things that got me interested in astronomy was the idea that we are so large here on earth, yet pale in insignificance in relation to the rest of the universe. It was this dichotomy that caught my attention. I'd love to be able to turn a telescope on us from that distance.

maleficent · 06-05-2006, 06:36 AM

no wonder i feel so crowded all the time... and so claustrophobic...

Redlemon · 06-05-2006, 08:05 AM

"For when you are put into the Total Perspective Vortex you are given just one momentary glimpse of the entire unimaginable infinity of creation, and somewhere in it a tiny little marker, a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot, which says "You are here.""

ngdawg · 06-05-2006, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecoyah

If you were standing on the surface of mars, on a clear night. You might get lucky and see a faint star in the night sky.....A faded light blue dot on the black canvas of frigid midnight.....and everyone you have ever known is on it.

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimed...s_to_Earth.jpg

Whenever I need perspective, those times that I feel overwhelmed with stupid problems, I step outside, look up at the stars and get my reality check-that I'm nothing but a speck in all of that. It is, at once, both humbling and awesome.

warrrreagl · 06-05-2006, 09:12 AM

I'm pretty sure Giant Hamburger is just to the left of the blue dot (it says so on his profile). And everyone ELSE I've ever known is ON the blue dot.

OzOz · 06-05-2006, 01:38 PM

Looking home from a new world - can't help but wonder what that will be like to do it in person.

Or even more so - going so far out into the void that the Sun itself fades into the night. That will REALLY be leaving home. I wonder if anyone will ever get to experience that?

liquidlight · 06-05-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redlemon

"For when you are put into the Total Perspective Vortex you are given just one momentary glimpse of the entire unimaginable infinity of creation, and somewhere in it a tiny little marker, a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot, which says "You are here.""

*walks by munching on angel food cake* Did you say something?

Martian · 06-10-2006, 10:17 AM

Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving
And revolving at nine hundred miles an hour,
That's orbiting at nineteen miles a second, so it's reckoned,
A sun that is the source of all our power.
The sun and you and me and all the stars that we can see
Are moving at a million miles a day
In an outer spiral arm, at forty thousand miles an hour,
Of the galaxy we call the 'Milky Way'.

Our galaxy itself contains a hundred billion stars.
It's a hundred thousand light years side to side.
It bulges in the middle, sixteen thousand light years thick,
But out by us, it's just three thousand light years wide.
We're thirty thousand light years from galactic central point.
We go 'round every two hundred million years,
And our galaxy is only one of millions of billions
In this amazing and expanding universe.

The universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding
In all of the directions it can whizz
As fast as it can go, at the speed of light, you know,
Twelve million miles a minute, and that's the fastest speed there is.
So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure,
How amazingly unlikely is your birth,
And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space,
'Cause there's bugger all down here on Earth.

Rodney · 06-10-2006, 12:01 PM

I was once wrapped up in a truly hideous job, one that consumed my life. I took a three week vacation in a country where nobody spoke English or knew anything about my company or what it did. Or would have cared if they had. It straightened my head.

Pictures like this don't make me feel insignificant. They help me remember that all the dreary things that impinge on our lives and proclaim their own impotance -- are insignificant.

crow_daw · 06-10-2006, 01:46 PM

Thanks tecoyah, now I'm going to be pondering the whole philosophical implications of this thread for like two hours...........this topic always stirs my mind.

But I got things to do!!!!!!

TexanAvenger · 06-10-2006, 05:13 PM

Tec... you really know how to make a guy feel special.

Really though, I'd love to see a shot from so far away as to have to use a Hubble-like instrument. Maybe that'd convince people we're not as important as we think we are.

Jack Ruby · 06-11-2006, 03:28 AM

I also love this picture: sunset on Mars. The sun is so small!

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...20050610a.html

06-05-2006, 02:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	Kinda makes me feel...insignificant If you were standing on the surface of mars, on a clear night. You might get lucky and see a faint star in the night sky.....A faded light blue dot on the black canvas of frigid midnight.....and everyone you have ever known is on it. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimed...s_to_Earth.jpg __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

06-05-2006, 05:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I love it! I am used to seeing the orange dot in the sky that is Mars... it's very cool to see the reverse angle. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

06-05-2006, 05:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
JumpinJesus Junkie Location: Chicago	As a kid, one of the things that got me interested in astronomy was the idea that we are so large here on earth, yet pale in insignificance in relation to the rest of the universe. It was this dichotomy that caught my attention. I'd love to be able to turn a telescope on us from that distance. __________________ "I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses

06-05-2006, 06:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	no wonder i feel so crowded all the time... and so claustrophobic... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

06-05-2006, 08:05 AM	#6 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	"For when you are put into the Total Perspective Vortex you are given just one momentary glimpse of the entire unimaginable infinity of creation, and somewhere in it a tiny little marker, a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot, which says "You are here."" __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

06-05-2006, 09:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
warrrreagl pinche vato Location: backwater, Third World, land of cotton	I'm pretty sure Giant Hamburger is just to the left of the blue dot (it says so on his profile). And everyone ELSE I've ever known is ON the blue dot. __________________ Living is easy with eyes closed. Last edited by warrrreagl; 06-05-2006 at 09:19 AM..

06-05-2006, 01:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
OzOz Psycho Location: Right here, right now.	Looking home from a new world - can't help but wonder what that will be like to do it in person. Or even more so - going so far out into the void that the Sun itself fades into the night. That will REALLY be leaving home. I wonder if anyone will ever get to experience that? __________________ Maybe you should put some shorts on or something, if you wanna keep fighting evil today.

06-10-2006, 10:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving And revolving at nine hundred miles an hour, That's orbiting at nineteen miles a second, so it's reckoned, A sun that is the source of all our power. The sun and you and me and all the stars that we can see Are moving at a million miles a day In an outer spiral arm, at forty thousand miles an hour, Of the galaxy we call the 'Milky Way'. Our galaxy itself contains a hundred billion stars. It's a hundred thousand light years side to side. It bulges in the middle, sixteen thousand light years thick, But out by us, it's just three thousand light years wide. We're thirty thousand light years from galactic central point. We go 'round every two hundred million years, And our galaxy is only one of millions of billions In this amazing and expanding universe. The universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding In all of the directions it can whizz As fast as it can go, at the speed of light, you know, Twelve million miles a minute, and that's the fastest speed there is. So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure, How amazingly unlikely is your birth, And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space, 'Cause there's bugger all down here on Earth. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

06-10-2006, 12:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	I was once wrapped up in a truly hideous job, one that consumed my life. I took a three week vacation in a country where nobody spoke English or knew anything about my company or what it did. Or would have cared if they had. It straightened my head. Pictures like this don't make me feel insignificant. They help me remember that all the dreary things that impinge on our lives and proclaim their own impotance -- are insignificant.

06-10-2006, 01:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
crow_daw Idolator Location: Vol Country	Thanks tecoyah, now I'm going to be pondering the whole philosophical implications of this thread for like two hours...........this topic always stirs my mind. But I got things to do!!!!!! __________________ "We each have a star, all we have to do is find it. Once you do, everyone who sees it will be blinded." - Earl Simmons

06-10-2006, 05:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
TexanAvenger Born-Again New Guy Location: Unfound.	Tec... you really know how to make a guy feel special. Really though, I'd love to see a shot from so far away as to have to use a Hubble-like instrument. Maybe that'd convince people we're not as important as we think we are.

06-11-2006, 03:28 AM	#15 (permalink)
Jack Ruby Psycho Location: Belgium	I also love this picture: sunset on Mars. The sun is so small! http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...20050610a.html __________________ You don't know what you don't know.