Pictures of Space

When a scientist says how many stars there are, it is just hard to visualize. You think there is a lot, but a lot doesn't really make as large an impression as this image(If it doesn't get really big try this link):

Just about every little dot is a solar system.


A few hundred years ago people figured out that planets orbit the sun. After a few generations they started figuring out how far away those planets were. Then someone invented rockets. Now we are able to calculate just how long the rocket needs to burn to get all the way to that little dot in the sky. Not only do we get impressive fly by photos of other planets, we actually have pictures from the surface. Here are some of my favorite Mars photos (click for the quite impressive full size images):

Curousity Rover:

 

Opportunity Rover:

Spirit Rover: