Our Universe Is Freaking Huge and Terrifying! (But in a Good Way)

“We are all made of star stuff”, as Carl Sagan used to say. This little quote is insanely deep and mind-blowing, if you really think about it. Everything you see around you, every screen, every leaf, every North Korean missile – it’s all made of elements that once were a part of a star. Ain’t that trippy as hell?
It’s impossible not to love space, especially, when you see photos like these. Remember, these are ALL pictures of various celestial bodies, galaxies, and nebulae. There’s nothing Earth-related there, and it makes my head hurt, but in a good way. Now just try to relax and enjoy the ride.

1. This is the Bubble Nebula, and it’s only 8,000 light-years away from Earth. Basically, we’re cosmic neighbors.

2. A group of stars that are held together by mutual gravitation is called an open cluster. This is one of those open clusters, located in the Scorpius constellation.

3. This beauty is the Lobster Nebula, and it is only 5,500 light-years away from Earth.

4. Two galaxies swirling in an infinite (but not really) dance or passion and mutual destruction, caused by the gravitational pull of the lower one. Remember that there’s no up or down in space, though.

5. Jupiter – the largest planet in our Solar System. But you probably knew that already. Did you also know that its trademark Great Red Spot is 1.3 times as wide as Earth?

6. NGC 602 is a gorgeous looking open cluster, located in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), and it’s one of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way.

7. What the hell is that monstrosity? It’s just the Carina Nebula mostly made of gas and dust, that sort of resembles an elephant, no big deal.