For NASA Junkies: One Million Galaxies (a map of the local Universe)

I was astounded when I ran across this on the NASA website:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ima...xies_2mass.jpg

Are the nearest galaxies distributed randomly? A plot of over one million of the brightest "extended sources" detected by the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) shows that they are not. The vast majority of these infrared extended sources are galaxies. Visible above is an incredible tapestry of structure that provides limits on how the universe formed and evolved. Many galaxies are gravitationally bound together to form clusters, which themselves are loosely bound into superclusters, which in turn are sometimes seen to align over even larger scale structures. In contrast, very bright stars inside our own Milky Way Galaxy cause the vertical blue sash.

Awesome! Astronomy used to be one of my hobbies.
(This picture is "doctored": see original at http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ima...xies_2mass.jpg)

It makes me think about a different twist on the term "special relativity". This should remind us all how truly insignificantly small we are, which makes the problems we have even smaller, which, in turn, makes the problems others have with us so small as to be totally irrelevant. . . in a relative way, of course.

Lauren, as usual you bring something fascinating to the community. Growing up, my father was intimately involved in NASA and many other facets of space research, so I became addicted to all things "Space". To see how those early days of the great unknown have evolved so quickly to the present, where such amazing photos and information are readily available on our home desk (or lap) is almost unfathomable. Thanks for sharing a little outward perspective which led to some very deep inner perspective.

Still, it reminds me most of the final scene in Men In Black..... I am SUCH a movie junkie.

Thanks, gorgeous!

It makes me think about a different twist on the term "special relativity". This should remind us all how truly insignificantly small we are, which makes the problems we have even smaller, which, in turn, makes the problems others have with us so small as to be totally irrelevant. . . in a relative way, of course. Originally Posted by Iaintliein

“Narrator: There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.

“There is another theory which states that this has already happened.”
-- Douglas Adams's The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy


A Man Said to the Universe
A man said to the universe:
"Sir I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
-- Stephen Crane

Very cool!

Like many of the rest of you, I've been fascinated by astronomy since childhood.

My greatest wish for my children is that they will get to go to space. I want to go explore out there so very badly

My greatest wish for my children is that they will get to go to space. I want to go explore out there so very badly Originally Posted by SillyGirl

I'm ready to send mine into orbit.

Cheers,
Mazo.

Lauren, as usual you bring something fascinating to the community. Growing up, my father was intimately involved in NASA and many other facets of space research, so I became addicted to all things "Space". To see how those early days of the great unknown have evolved so quickly to the present, where such amazing photos and information are readily available on our home desk (or lap) is almost unfathomable. Thanks for sharing a little outward perspective which led to some very deep inner perspective.

Still, it reminds me most of the final scene in Men In Black..... I am SUCH a movie junkie.

Thanks, gorgeous! Originally Posted by topguntex

I'm flattered that you enjoy my being a Dork

I have long been addicted to all things Space, born out of my general childlike sense of wonderment. In part it also comes from a spiritual place, as I believe that at it's core spirituality and science should not at all clash, but feed each other.

My fascination with the universe is born out of the complexity of reality: Relativity playing a huge role in that, the nature of space and time being so ever changing and organic, when at our own tiny level it seems so rigid and distinct. String theory absolutely absorbs me with fascination.

I also believe that "God" is the soul of the universe, much like Einstein I do not believe in a personal God, but that we can glimpse this grand network of elegance through both the tiniest details in science, and the grandest details in science. If life can evolve from inanimate objects over millions of years, and souls (intelligence, creativity and emotion) can develop out of an organic form, then my personal faith holds close the possibility that a soul evolved out of the universe as a whole. I guess my theory is a bit backward: God didn't give birth to the universe, the universe gave birth to God.

Seeing this picture was like seeing a snap shot of a piece of God. I love it, I wish I could get a huge poster of it made and framed.

Seeing this picture was like seeing a snap shot of a piece of God. I love it, I wish I could get a huge poster of it made and framed. Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

Go to the site below.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/1012/milliongalaxies_2mass_big.jpg

It provides a larger image of the same picture.

Download the image to you computer. If you know someone who has Photoshop, you can format the image at 150 pixels per inch resolution, and this will give you a picture that is about 31 inches wide and 15.5 inches in height. If you increase the resolution to 200 pixels per inch, the image size will be 23 inches wide by 11.5 in height. Kinkos or another copy service can print the first poster on high quality printer paper; whereas, Walmart can print the second, smaller poster on photo paper. Good luck.

Thanks!

I actually prefer 300 dpi for printing purposes. I'll test it at 200 and 300.

Actually the best way to go is have a professional printer at home, then have a professional framer matt mount it and frame it. Yay, I'm so excited to get this one done

“Narrator: There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.

“There is another theory which states that this has already happened.”
-- Douglas Adams's The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy


A Man Said to the Universe
A man said to the universe:
"Sir I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
-- Stephen Crane Originally Posted by I B Hankering

We must not forget that the Answer to life the universe and everything is 41. Now we need only figure out the Question.

I absolutely adore anyone that quotes Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy!

I absolutely adore anyone that quotes Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy! Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

You are a lucky man, IB.

Unrelated question Lauren. Was that avatar picture photoshoped or did you actually paint your boobs purple. If so, how long did it take to get the paint off?

It looks like it was painted on.