What is The Size of Space?
The Size of Space is an interactive scale tour by Neal Agarwal of neal.fun, published in November 2019. It starts with a single astronaut floating on screen, then each press of the arrow brings in something bigger beside it: a space station, asteroids, moons, planets, stars, nebulae and galaxies.
Because each new object appears next to the last, you get a real sense of the jumps in size instead of just reading numbers. By the end you reach the edge of the observable universe. It was picked up by Futurism, Neatorama and the Long Now Foundation, and is a popular choice for science lessons.
What You Can Do
- Zoom out step by step from an astronaut to the universe
- Compare each object directly with the one before
- See real sizes for planets, stars and galaxies
- Move forward and back at your own pace
- Enjoy a calm soundtrack as you go
How to Play The Size of Space
- Open neal.fun/size-of-space.
- Press the arrow button or your arrow keys to go to the next object.
- Read the name and size of each new object.
- Keep going until you reach the observable universe.
Is The Size of Space Free?
The Size of Space is free with no account or purchases. neal.fun is supported by an optional tip jar.
Who Will Enjoy It?
- Students and teachers covering astronomy
- Space fans who want to feel the scale
- Kids who ask 'what is the biggest thing?'
- Anyone wanting a few minutes of awe
Websites Like The Size of Space
- If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel: A scale map that shows how empty space is between planets.
- Space Elevator: Ride from the ground up into space.
- The Deep Sea: The same idea of scale, but going down into the ocean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Size of Space free?
Yes. It is free on neal.fun with no sign-up.
Who made The Size of Space?
Neal Agarwal, the creator of neal.fun.
Is The Size of Space good for kids?
Yes. It is simple to use and works well in classrooms.