How big is the universe? Visual representations of the size of things are always fun, and this new one, comparing celestial objects, is a nice new addition to the genre.
Still, I have to say that even though it lacks the modern special effects, the absolute classic in this field, Ray and Charles Eames’ Powers of Ten remains hard to top.
I think the difference here is the framing device of maintaining a consistent logarithmic scale — each step takes you out another power of ten, rather than the more fluid steps in the newer video. This gives a more constant frame of reference, something one always strives for in visually presenting research data. Perhaps there’s a lesson here relating back to this week’s post on variability in presenting citation data.
Discussion
1 Thought on "The Size of Things (and the Power of a Consistent Frame of Reference)"
The new video also focuses just on solar objects, rather than the entire range of what we know. If you want a modern take on powers on ten, complete with logarithmic scaling but with interactivity added in, a good one is here: http://htwins.net/scale2/