Feeling small or feeling big?

June 20, 2002 10:10 AM

Feeling small or feeling big? 39 orders of magnitude that take you from the Milky Way to the proton in an oak leaf.
posted by Chief Typist (9 comments total)

Pretty neat concept. Also posted in January
posted by samsara at 10:20 AM on June 20, 2002

how cool. and it's not even October 10.
posted by zoopraxiscope at 10:28 AM on June 20, 2002

Very cool. Thanks for the link.
posted by keithl at 10:41 AM on June 20, 2002

Wow! Too cool, and will pass along to the kids for help with a science project! Thanks!
posted by RunsWithBandageScissors at 10:46 AM on June 20, 2002

Darnit, I was hoping to see a quark!
posted by vacapinta at 11:01 AM on June 20, 2002

The original Powers of Ten, by Charles and Ray Eames, is worth checking out. I have a flip book that has always fascinated visitors, from my young niece to my (now-deceased) 90-year-old grandfather. I prefer the Eames version because it focuses on Chicago, specifically on a man sunbathing. Brings a little more human touch to it.
posted by acornface at 11:27 AM on June 20, 2002

Face to face with a single proton

"Well, hello there. Can I buy you a drink?"

Also: (an oldie but bears repeating)

Two neutrons walk into each other on the sidewalk.

One shouts, "damn, I've lost an electron!"

The other one replies, "you sure?"

The first one replies, "yeah, I'm positive!"

posted by ColdChef at 11:44 AM on June 20, 2002

Very cool. Here's another website that picks up where this one leaves off and takes you in the opposite direction...from the Sun's neighborhood out to 'the Visible Universe'.

What did they use to get that shot of the Milky Way anyhow? A Nikon or what...
posted by mathis23 at 3:35 PM on June 20, 2002

acornface: That book rules! We had it in our household in the early 80's, and as a kid, I'd often pour over it. Even as a little kid, it really put everything into perspective in my mind.
posted by wackybrit at 6:44 PM on June 20, 2002