Why the true scale of space is impossible to grasp intuitively
By
Philip Plait
Crisp on the outside, thoughtful on the inside. A keeper.
Summary
This article explores the incomprehensible vastness of space through analogies and thought experiments. It argues that while we can use reason to understand space mathematically, truly grasping its scale intuitively is nearly impossible. The author uses examples like Voyager 1's journey and comparative analogies to illustrate how quickly our mental models break down when contemplating cosmic distances.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledSpace is unreasonably big.
We can use reason to try it understand it, but grasping it, getting a true intuitive understanding for it, is a whole 'nuther story.
Space is too big to grasp.
The numbers get so big so fast that analogies tend to break down; we can't really get a feel for it.
Go ahead and think about it. Nope, it's bigger. Try again. Nope, still too small.
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