1. Cosmic Scales
Two diagrams using our location in Charlottesville and the US to portray the size of the galaxy, and the size of the visible Universe.

2. Our Galaxy Earth = 100 nm = virus Sun = 10 μm = cell
Earth orbit = ¼ cm = pin head
Solar system = cm = saucer
Nearest star = m = lawn
Jewel Box
Cluster
Naked eye
stars
Eagle
Nebula
Crab
Nebula
Solar system
Galaxy Center

3. The Visible Universe + Cluster Lens 13.7 Gly
MW galaxy = 20 m = class room
Local group = 600 m = central grounds
Virgo cluster = 15 km = Walmart
Coma cluster = 100 km = Culpeper
MW galaxy = 20 m = class room
Keck/VLT
+ Cluster Lens
SDSS &
2dFGRS
“Nearby”
galaxies
HDF
Our Galaxy