What is If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel?
If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel is a single web page by designer Josh Worth that calls itself a tediously accurate map of the solar system. The Moon is one pixel wide and everything else is drawn to the same scale. You start at the Sun and scroll sideways past Mercury, Venus, Earth and the rest, with long stretches of nothing in between.
Worth launched it in February 2014 and it won a Webby Award in the science category. It has been shared on hundreds of sites, used by teachers and shown in museum exhibits. What makes it stick is the writing in the gaps. Small notes appear as you scroll, telling you how far you have come and musing on how empty everything is, and a button lets you travel at the speed of light to feel how slow even that is.
What You Can Do
- A to-scale map of the Sun and all eight planets
- Notes in the empty space that put distances in context
- A speed of light button that scrolls for you
- A distance counter in kilometres and miles
- Translations in more than a dozen languages
How to Play If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel
- Open the page in a desktop or mobile browser.
- Scroll or swipe sideways from the Sun.
- Read the notes that appear in the gaps between planets.
- Try the speed of light button to travel at light speed.
Is If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel Free?
The page is completely free with no account, ads or purchases.
Who Will Enjoy It?
- Space fans and stargazers
- Teachers explaining scale and distance
- Students who want to feel how big the solar system is
- Anyone who enjoys a slow, thoughtful scroll
Websites Like If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel
- The Size of Space: Zoom from an astronaut to the observable universe.
- Space Elevator: Another scroll from the ground up into space.
- The True Size Of: A map that fixes your sense of size the way this fixes distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel free?
Yes. It is a single free web page with no sign-up and nothing to buy.
How long does it take to scroll to the end?
A long time. That is the point: the gaps between planets are huge. The speed of light button scrolls for you.
Who made it?
Designer Josh Worth made it in 2014, and it won a Webby Award.