How Big is Space ??

[lance55433]

so space is big??

[TheFoX]

well i will ave to think on this one?

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, 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 bother all down here on Earth

Speed is relative to a given point. If it is a fixed point, you can calculate speed accurately, with reference to that given point. If the point is fluid, floating, or otherwise mobile, then speed is more of a differential. Two cars are traveling at 50 mph. If they are traveling in the same direction, then the speed of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle is 0 mph, yet if they are traveling in exact opposite directions, either towards or away from each other, the speed of the first vehicle relative to the second is then 100 mph.

The problem with your own calculations is that much of it is assumptions. The assumption that a galactic central point exists, and that it exists where you think it exists can easily distort your own figures. Remember than spacial calculations are based on current experience and our observations of the galaxy from this little part of it. No one from Earth has actually mapped the galaxy, so what we believe about our galaxy is purely based on mathematics, and not hard evidence.

Our scientists may be good, but they are not THAT good. After all, if they knew everything, what would be the point in continual education and advancement. New concepts and ideas are discovered every single day. We are currently on the eve of understanding DNA and how it affects our growth; it won't be long before our scientists will master DNA and modify it, for better or worse.

Soon, we'll send a man to Mars, and start populating the Moon. All this is to be achieved, yet it is within our sights. How many hundreds of years before we finally explore the outer sections of our solar system? After all, it took us thousands of years just to explore this planet, and there are still areas unexplored by man.

[themattler]

Even if not infinite, at it's borders it's expanding faster than the speed of light so there are places we will never ever be able to reach

[usekitty]

really really really big

[TheFoX]

Even if not infinite, at it's borders it's expanding faster than the speed of light so there are places we will never ever be able to reach

Yes, but there are places on Earth that we, as individuals, would never be able to reach. If we started exploring at 18 years of age, after a basic education, and providing money was no object, do you think we could experience everything this world has to offer? Do you even know your own country from top to tail? Besides, the majority of space is simply empty, devoid of everything including an atmosphere. Why bother with all this useless space.

[IdolEyes787]

Yeah I see you're point.Like just the other day I went to this new restaurant downtown.Totally not worth it.

[ckrit]

really really really big

That's what she said.

[Sandk]

really really big... really?

[zerosquared]

Infinite.

[TheFoX]

Infinite.

Can anyone comprehend what it must be like to set off in one direction and to never come to an end. Imagine living for billions of years and traveling at the speed of light, or faster, and never encountering a border?

I think the word, 'infinite', doesn't even come close to describing the universe. I mean, if you set off on foot around our globe, and could walk on water, even though you would walk forever in a circle, you would still pass the same spot you started at time and time again. In space, you'd never pass that same spot.

It is quite feasible to expect other life within this massive universe, and to also expect that these other life forms never to meet. The vastness of space is beyond comprehension.