by john » Fri Jun 17, 2005 12:39 pm
This is really a serious question asked in a childlike way. It is usually answered not with a number, but with an analogy-most frequently something like: "more than all the grains of sand on all the beaches in all the world."
Well, is that just surface layer sand, or can we dig down to rock and count the grains in between. Is that at hightide or lowtide? That is the first thing I wonder whenever I read the above answer.
So, the real qurestion is, if it has a realistic known answer, is:
What is the mathematical approximation of all the stars in the universe?
Come on, please, I'm waiting, for years I've waited. I have and know children who want to know. Please.
Seriously, and not Dr. Carl Sagen's "billions and billions" but a number like 1 followed by ? zeros or 10 raised to ? power, something like that.
This is really a serious question asked in a childlike way. It is usually answered not with a number, but with an analogy-most frequently something like: "more than all the grains of sand on all the beaches in all the world."
Well, is that just surface layer sand, or can we dig down to rock and count the grains in between. Is that at hightide or lowtide? That is the first thing I wonder whenever I read the above answer.
So, the real qurestion is, if it has a realistic known answer, is:
What is the mathematical approximation of all the stars in the universe?
Come on, please, I'm waiting, for years I've waited. I have and know children who want to know. Please.
Seriously, and not Dr. Carl Sagen's "billions and billions" but a number like 1 followed by ? zeros or 10 raised to ? power, something like that.