Thinking outside the box!

Here’s a little astronomy to help you put things into perspective

HubblHubblee

The Hubble telescope is located outside our atmosphere and is orbiting around the Earth at 593 km above sea level with

an orbital period of about 96 to 97 minutes at a speed of 28,000 km/h.

Its name is in honor of astronomer Edwin Hubble, it was placed in orbit on April 24, 1990. It weighs about 11000 kg in a cylindrical form with a 13,2 m length and a diameter of 4,2 m. This telescope can obtain images of the cosmos at an 0,1 arc second of resolution.

International Space Station

View from inside the Space View from inside the Space StationStation

Hubble’s bestHubble’s best

This is the Sombraro Galaxie also called M104 in Messier’s This is the Sombraro Galaxie also called M104 in Messier’s catalog at a distance of 28 millions light years. This is catalog at a distance of 28 millions light years. This is

considered one of the best pictures Hubble took. considered one of the best pictures Hubble took.

Then we have the Ant’s Nebula, so called because of Then we have the Ant’s Nebula, so called because of its shape and location: 3,000 and 6,000 light years. its shape and location: 3,000 and 6,000 light years.

Then here is the Esquimo Nebula at 5,000 Then here is the Esquimo Nebula at 5,000 light years.light years.

In fourth place, the Cat’s Eye Nebula.In fourth place, the Cat’s Eye Nebula.

Fifth place, the Hour Glass Nebula located 8,000 Fifth place, the Hour Glass Nebula located 8,000 light years the result of an exploding star. light years the result of an exploding star.

In 6th place, we have a part of the Cone Nebula at 2,500 In 6th place, we have a part of the Cone Nebula at 2,500 light years light years

In Seventh position, we find a portion of the In Seventh position, we find a portion of the Swan Nebula located 5,500 light years Swan Nebula located 5,500 light years

described as an ocean of hydrogen with small described as an ocean of hydrogen with small quantities of oxygen, sulfur and other quantities of oxygen, sulfur and other

elements. elements.

In 8th place, this beautiful image called “Starry Night”In 8th place, this beautiful image called “Starry Night”also known as “Light Echo”.also known as “Light Echo”.

In 9th place, two galaxies merging NGC 2207 and IC In 9th place, two galaxies merging NGC 2207 and IC 2163 located 114 millions light years.2163 located 114 millions light years.

Tenth place, a fragment of the Trifid Nebula Tenth place, a fragment of the Trifid Nebula with many stars at 9000 light years.with many stars at 9000 light years.

Other images from HubbleOther images from Hubble

Voyager 1

Actual position of Voyager 1 (102 AU)

Dwarf planet in 2003 UB 313 (Eris)

Halley’s comet Halley’s comet

M16: The Eagle Nebula

M57: Ring Nebula

Nebula RCW 79

NGC 2237: Rosette Nebula

M42: Orion Nebula

Proto Star

Milky Way (our sun is indicated)

A Black Hole

NGC 4414

The Earth with clouds

The Earth without clouds

The Earth with a rising moon

Earth and New Moon

Earth and full Moon

Our Sun with its atmosphere

Sun without its atmosphere

Venus without its clouds

Venus with clouds

Mercury

Mars

Orbit of Mars, Phobos and Deimos

Jupiter

Jupiter’s moons and their orbits (the first 8, the closest ones)

Saturn

Saturn’s orbit and moons

Uranus

Uranus and Satellites

Neptune

Neptune’s orbit and satellites (without Nereid)

Neptune’s orbit with Nereid and Triton

Pluto

Orbit of Pluto and Charon

The Milky Way

Words escape us when we perceive these fantastic images of Words escape us when we perceive these fantastic images of color and light. color and light.

The Eagle Nebula or M16 can be found in the Serpent The Eagle Nebula or M16 can be found in the Serpent Constellation. It’s like an open window in the middle of a Constellation. It’s like an open window in the middle of a starry night. At the center, many new stars are forming, starry night. At the center, many new stars are forming,

creating a wonderful spectacle of gaseous emissions.creating a wonderful spectacle of gaseous emissions.

THIS IS ALL REALLY THIS IS ALL REALLY FACINATING AND FACINATING AND DEEPLY MOVING, DEEPLY MOVING,

BUT WHERE ARE BUT WHERE ARE WEWE IN THIS PICTURE?IN THIS PICTURE?

Earth

PlutoMars Mercury

Earth Pluto

Size of Earth relative to other planets in our solar system

Sun

Earth

Pluto

Size of our solar system relative to the Sun.

I HOPE THIS HAS I HOPE THIS HAS ENLIGHTENED YOU .ENLIGHTENED YOU .

BEYOND OUR SUN, BEYOND OUR SUN,

THERE IS A VAST UNIVERSETHERE IS A VAST UNIVERSE

Our Sun Sirius

Arcturus

Jupiter at 1 pixel at the point of the arrow.

The Earth is not visible at this scale.

Size of our Sun relative to certain other stars, including Arcturus

Antares is the 15th most brilliant star in the night sky.It is located at more than 1000 light years.

Sun – 1 pixel

Beetlejuice

Size of Arcturus relative to Antares & other stars

ARE YOU BEGINNING TO GET THE PICTURE?ARE YOU BEGINNING TO GET THE PICTURE?

WHEN VIEWED FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE HOW WHEN VIEWED FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE HOW SIGNIFICANT ARE ALL THOSE MATTERS THAT SIGNIFICANT ARE ALL THOSE MATTERS THAT

DOMINATE YOUR THINKING EVERY DAY?DOMINATE YOUR THINKING EVERY DAY?

ARE THE DIFFERENCES, DISPUTES AND ARE THE DIFFERENCES, DISPUTES AND COMPLAINTS THAT KEEP YOU AT ODDS WITH COMPLAINTS THAT KEEP YOU AT ODDS WITH

THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU REALLY SO THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU REALLY SO IMPORTANT?IMPORTANT?

ARE THEY REALLY?ARE THEY REALLY?

NIGHT LIGHTSNIGHT LIGHTS

And then the Sunrise ..And then the Sunrise ..

Wonderful Blue Planet!Wonderful Blue Planet!

Appreciate your home!Appreciate your home!

Remember that it is our children’s heritage! Remember that it is our children’s heritage!

THIS is the picture to keep in mind in THIS is the picture to keep in mind in those moments when you feel life is those moments when you feel life is

overwhelming.overwhelming.

When you think your problems are When you think your problems are enormous…enormous…

……and when you think there is an immense and when you think there is an immense distance between you and the people distance between you and the people

around you.around you.

It’s also a picture for those moments when, It’s also a picture for those moments when, as human beings we feel “all-powerful” and as human beings we feel “all-powerful” and

“magnificent”…“magnificent”…

masters of our world… at the zenith of masters of our world… at the zenith of technological power !technological power !

And for when you feel that we are unique And for when you feel that we are unique In all the universe.In all the universe.

And finally, it is a picture for those moments And finally, it is a picture for those moments when you’re thinking that this world…when you’re thinking that this world…

with its great oceans, continents, mountain with its great oceans, continents, mountain ranges and great cities… ranges and great cities…

is invulnerable, insensitive to our actions… is invulnerable, insensitive to our actions… that it is indestructible.that it is indestructible.

Because, Earth has five hundred million Because, Earth has five hundred million square kilometers of surface!...square kilometers of surface!...

Six thousand quadrillion tons of rocks!...Six thousand quadrillion tons of rocks!...

And more than one thousand trillion tons of And more than one thousand trillion tons of water!…water!…

Héla aquí, pues:Héla aquí, pues:

Contemplate this Contemplate this picture for a few picture for a few moments.moments.

It was taken by the Cassini-Juygens probe, It was taken by the Cassini-Juygens probe, in 2004, when it arrived at the rings of in 2004, when it arrived at the rings of Saturn.Saturn.

We are all on this little blue point.We are all on this little blue point.

All our wars…All our wars…All our problems...All our problems...All our greatness All our greatness and misery….and misery….All our technology, All our technology, our art, our advances…our art, our advances…All our civilizations,All our civilizations, all our wildlife and flora...all our wildlife and flora...All races, religions…All races, religions…All governments, countries and states...All governments, countries and states...All our love… and all our hate…All our love… and all our hate…

Six billion souls in constant agitation…Six billion souls in constant agitation…

This is your planet.This is your planet.

If we’re wise, we will choose to take from these If we’re wise, we will choose to take from these pictures a valuable lesson in humility, and pictures a valuable lesson in humility, and understand their vital double message: understand their vital double message:

On one hand how tiny we, and our problems On one hand how tiny we, and our problems and our differences, are in this grand universe when and our differences, are in this grand universe when we view them from this perspective.we view them from this perspective.

And on the other, how fragile our planet is; And on the other, how fragile our planet is; and the importance of taking care of this little and the importance of taking care of this little blue speck, …because its the only home we have.blue speck, …because its the only home we have.

It does make you think, no?It does make you think, no?

Think about it...

TAKE SOME TIME TO THINK TAKE SOME TIME TO THINK ~~ IN DEPTH ~IN DEPTH ~

ABOUT THE IMAGES AND CONCEPTS ABOUT THE IMAGES AND CONCEPTS PRESENTED HERE.PRESENTED HERE.

THEY MAY HELP TO RENEW YOUR THEY MAY HELP TO RENEW YOUR PERSPECTIVE ABOUT WHAT’S REALLY PERSPECTIVE ABOUT WHAT’S REALLY

IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE.IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE.

It is, and will always be far beyond our ability It is, and will always be far beyond our ability to comprehend, but above all we must stay to comprehend, but above all we must stay mindful of the truth that every aspect of the mindful of the truth that every aspect of the magnificence that we are privileged to view magnificence that we are privileged to view here – and all that is yet unseen – is part of here – and all that is yet unseen – is part of GOD’s intricate Creation! GOD’s intricate Creation!

Always remember also that “YOU” are a Always remember also that “YOU” are a necessary part of GOD’s creation. necessary part of GOD’s creation.

Are you being who you were sent here to be?Are you being who you were sent here to be?