Hubble photo - something a little awe-inspiring for a Monday morning

[LA Ute]

This is the Sombrero Galaxy, 28 million light years from Earth. I am told this was voted best picture taken by the Hubble telescope. The galaxy is officially called M104, has 800 billion suns and is 50,000 light years across.

And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still . . . . (Moses 7:30)

[il Padrino Ute]

That is an awesome photo.

The size of the universe can be mind boggling at times.

[Mrs. Funk]

Very cool. I found my astronomy class in college was a surprisingly spiritual class on many occasions.

[Indy Coug]

This is the Sombrero Galaxy, 28 million light years from Earth. I am told this was voted best picture taken by the Hubble telescope. The galaxy is officially called M104, has 800 billion suns and is 50,000 light years across.

And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still . . . . (Moses 7:30)

I like the movie Contact if for no other reason than the snippets of the universe (romanticized as they might have been) they showed during Jodie Foster's trip.

[SoonerCoug]

Question: Why did god(s) create so many galaxies with so many uninhabitable solar systems, etc. Is this what gods do for fun? Or is it merely more evidence that the Universe is random.

[Indy Coug]

Question: Why did god(s) create so many galaxies with so many uninhabitable solar systems, etc. Is this what gods do for fun? Or is it merely more evidence that the Universe is random.

Is there a reason why all of God's creations must be suitable for human habitation in order to have worth?

[SoonerCoug]

Is there a reason why all of God's creations must be suitable for human habitation in order to have worth?

No. I'm just wondering why God wastes so much matter when he could be advancing more souls. Is there a finite number of intelligences in the Universe or something?

[il Padrino Ute]

Question: Why did god(s) create so many galaxies with so many uninhabitable solar systems, etc. Is this what gods do for fun? Or is it merely more evidence that the Universe is random.

How many of the solar systems do you believe to be uninhabitable?

[SoonerCoug]

How many of the solar systems do you believe to be uninhabitable?

Most of them.

[LA Ute]

That is an awesome photo.

The size of the universe can be mind boggling at times.

I like to ponder the notion that just to get to the outer edge of this galaxy we'd have to travel at the speed of light for 28 million years. To cross it we'd have to travel at that speed for 50,000 years. Trying to wrap my mind around the 800 billion suns is pretty amazing too.

[Indy Coug]

No. I'm just wondering why God wastes so much matter when he could be advancing more souls. Is there a finite number of intelligences in the Universe or something?

Is God in a hurry or something?

[RobinFinderson]

Space sure is vast.

[falafel]

Is there a finite number of intelligences in the Universe or something?

Probably, don't you think?

[wuapinmon]

Question: Why did god(s) create so many galaxies with so many uninhabitable solar systems, etc. Is this what gods do for fun? Or is it merely more evidence that the Universe is random.

Those planets are enormous energy & mineral reservoirs for future technologies like tooblue uses in his art.

[Pheidippides]

No. I'm just wondering why God wastes so much matter when he could be advancing more souls. Is there a finite number of intelligences in the Universe or something?

From the definitive book on the subject:

It is known that there is an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Therefore, there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the product of a deranged imagination.