The Entire Universe, One Picture, and One Year

Category: Galaxies • Solar System • Spaceflight • big bang • biology
Posted on: December 30, 2011 11:15 PM, by Ethan Siegel

The size and age of the Cosmos are beyond ordinary human understanding. Lost somewhere between immensity and eternity is our tiny planetary home. -Carl Sagan
If the story of our entire Universe's history, from the last stages of inflation and the Big Bang up to the present day, were to be compressed into one calendar year, what would it look like?

As 2011 comes to an end, here's my final present of the year to you.

Timeline of the Universe.001.png

(As always, click for a more readable, higher-resolution version.)

Happy new year to all; may you all enjoy our shared story and journey while you celebrate. See you in 2012!