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NASA Image Shows Earth Between the Rings of Saturn

nasa.gov

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Re: NASA Image Shows Earth Between the Rings of Saturn

#31

Post by nsxwolf »

ucontrol wrote: post #20
ysavir wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So size is the most critical aspect of significance?

Excellent observation. Most critical? Maybe not. But it is undoubtedly very much a significant and underrecognized factor. The Overview Effect is a real thing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_effect

I've always thought the Overview Effect is a cognitive error, but it has this cloud of piety surrounding it "because astronauts".

At its best, it inspires calls to environmentalism (the fragility of the Earth), but at its worst, and it's usually at its worst, it inspires nihilistic Carl Saganisms like the Pale Blue Dot.

Re: NASA Image Shows Earth Between the Rings of Saturn

#33

Post by rhcom2 »

ashark wrote: post #25
rodionos wrote: post #16

> This image is part of a growing catalogue of "propeller" moons... Continued monitoring of these objects may lead to direct observations of the interaction between a disk of material and embedded moons. Such interactions help scientists understand fundamental principles of how solar systems formed from disks of matter. I urgently need a refresher on astronomy so I can have an intelligent discussion about space with…

My oldest is four and I feel this way about everything . They accidentally ask really tough questions constantly . There's no need to go to space for the tough stuff. This morning: "How to people know there's grass?" I managed to appease her with a crappy explanation of how sight works (just saying "we see it" didn't fly—we were in the car or I wouldn't have tried being so lazy) but hot damn there's a lot going on th…

If you can share a thirst for knowledge, a love of learning and a constant curiosity she'll be fine! You don't need to know the answers to everything, she just needs to know asking questions is fun.

Re: NASA Image Shows Earth Between the Rings of Saturn

#34

Post by jdmichal »

ashark wrote: post #25
rodionos wrote: post #16

> This image is part of a growing catalogue of "propeller" moons... Continued monitoring of these objects may lead to direct observations of the interaction between a disk of material and embedded moons. Such interactions help scientists understand fundamental principles of how solar systems formed from disks of matter. I urgently need a refresher on astronomy so I can have an intelligent discussion about space with…

My oldest is four and I feel this way about everything . They accidentally ask really tough questions constantly . There's no need to go to space for the tough stuff. This morning: "How to people know there's grass?" I managed to appease her with a crappy explanation of how sight works (just saying "we see it" didn't fly—we were in the car or I wouldn't have tried being so lazy) but hot damn there's a lot going on th…

You could always answer, "How do you know there's you?"

Never too early to trigger existential crisis!

Re: NASA Image Shows Earth Between the Rings of Saturn

#36

Post by luxpir »

ensiferum wrote: post #13

That tiny little speck in that endless blackness is us. All of the human race living on this tiny rock fighting over who owns which piece of land and whose religion is most peaceful. All the world leaders should be spent to space to understand how insignificant we are and how petty and insignificant our disagreements are.

I think you're right in that everyone should be aware of the scale of the universe. But importance seems to be fractal in the way that electrons are important to protons, salty and sweet food is important to me, stars to planets, galaxies to universes and so on. We are important, to ourselves. And I think that's OK.

Re: NASA Image Shows Earth Between the Rings of Saturn

#37

Post by sametmax »

ensiferum wrote: post #13

That tiny little speck in that endless blackness is us. All of the human race living on this tiny rock fighting over who owns which piece of land and whose religion is most peaceful. All the world leaders should be spent to space to understand how insignificant we are and how petty and insignificant our disagreements are.

No. Somebody that would realize that by going to space would already be a decent person on earth.

You say this because you already have a perspective on things.

Re: NASA Image Shows Earth Between the Rings of Saturn

#38

Post by rejectedstone »

This may be a silly question, but where are all of the stars? This image is amazing! I love that you can even see the moon. When I saw this I thought, if I can see the earth and its moon clearly from Saturn, then I should be able to see Saturn and her moons from Earth (then I remembered all of the stars, and how hard it would be to make that out in the night sky).

Re: NASA Image Shows Earth Between the Rings of Saturn

#39

Post by yodsanklai »

rodionos wrote: post #16

> This image is part of a growing catalogue of "propeller" moons... Continued monitoring of these objects may lead to direct observations of the interaction between a disk of material and embedded moons. Such interactions help scientists understand fundamental principles of how solar systems formed from disks of matter. I urgently need a refresher on astronomy so I can have an intelligent discussion about space with…

Check out "crash course astronomy" on youtube. Quite entertaining.

Re: NASA Image Shows Earth Between the Rings of Saturn

#40

Post by [deleted] »

ensiferum wrote: post #13

That tiny little speck in that endless blackness is us. All of the human race living on this tiny rock fighting over who owns which piece of land and whose religion is most peaceful. All the world leaders should be spent to space to understand how insignificant we are and how petty and insignificant our disagreements are.

[deleted]
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