Vox brings readers 40 maps that explain outer space. As Joseph Stromberg notes in this mind-expanding exploration of the cosmos, space is difficult to grasp intellectually, because “it’s bigger, by many orders of magnitude than anything we ever experience first hand, and involves processes that unfold over the course of billions of years.” These maps try to tell the story in a way readers can understand. There are graphics here that visually represent the size of various objects in our solar system, show the surprisingly large distance between the earth and the moon, and illustrate the 300,000 pieces of space junk that currently orbit our planet, among many other fascinating representations.

The sun is absolutely ginormous
The sun is absolutely ginormous