Posted on 06/07/2013 4:10:27 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: How big is our Sun compared to other stars? In a dramatic and popular video featured on YouTube, the relative sizes of planets and stars are shown from smallest to largest. The above video starts with Earth's Moon and progresses through increasingly larger planets in our Solar System. Next, the Sun is shown along as compared to many of the brighter stars in our neighborhood of the Milky Way Galaxy. Finally, some of the largest stars known spin into view. Note that the true sizes of most stars outside of the Sun and Betelgeuse are not known by direct observation, but rather inferred by measurements of their perceived brightness, temperature, and distance. Although an inspiring learning tool that is mostly accurate, APOD readers are encouraged to complete the learning experience -- and possibly help make future versions more accurate -- by pointing out slight inaccuracies in the video.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Copyright: morn1415 (YouTube)]
Sorry, I’m late again.
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That’s a favorite of mine.
What’s with you guys... you always concentrate on size....... of stars. (yes, I am smirking!) Thanks, Sunky!
Incredible — 1100 years for a hypothetical jet flying over the surface of a red giant to completely circle it.
Would beg to differ with the last line, “You’re not the center of the universe.”
Since there is no center to the universe, it’s meaningless, in fact inaccurate, since it implies the center exists somewhere other than in my vicinity. I’m just as much the center as anywhere else.
More importantly, it assigns unwarranted significance to physical location or size. The theory is apparently that the Earth isn’t very big, so it can’t be very important. As is physical size is always correlated with importance.
I’m not real happy with the ending, either. Everything was great, until the end. Of COURSE we’re not the center of the universe, but we are the apple of God’s eye, so to speak.
So, how big is Uranus ?
<snort.. it had to be said ;-)
I heard it got bigger after it took a vacation to San Francisco, so I had to ask... :-P
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