The mass of the Sun is 330,000 times that of Earth, so conservatively estimated, the progenitor star of the Crab Nebula is over three million times the mass of Earth.

Gulp——

Upon hearing this number, Wang Yue couldn't help but swallow heavily.

As a general who has long fought on the western front, he is quite familiar with the number 'ten thousand.'

For example, tens of thousands of soldiers, tens of thousands of pounds of grain, and tens of thousands of copper coins, etc.

But a stellar body three million times the mass of Earth...

Three million times...

According to Xu Yun's explanation.

The area of Bianjing City only occupies one five-hundredth of the Great Song (the Song Dynasty's territory is small), and the Great Song itself is only one-twentieth of the continent it is on...

My goodness.

Wang Yue suddenly realized that his brain seemed to be a bit inadequate.

In fact, it wasn't just Wang Yue.

Everyone present, upon hearing this number, almost uniformly had their minds go blank for a moment.

After regaining their senses.

The crowd simultaneously made a unanimous action:

They lifted their heads and looked towards the Milky Way Galaxy.

A little over a week ago.

Xu Yun, through Cavendish's torsion balance experiment, and with the assistance of Old Jia and others, deduced the mass of Earth:

Approximately 6 times 10 to the 24th power.

And three million times that number...

Looking at the vast cosmos, Old Su suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of dread:

Under this galaxy, humanity is indeed so insignificant...

At that moment.

Zhang Shuye, who had remained silent, couldn't hold back any longer. He cupped his hands towards Xu Yun:

"Mr. Wang, if it is as you say, in this boundless emptiness where Earth resides, could there be other planets with life?"

Xu Yun was silent for a moment, then shook his head in confusion:

"Sorry, this commoner does not know."

Unlike those previous pretense of ignorance, Xu Yun was speaking the truth this time.

Extraterrestrial life.

It is a highly contentious topic even in the 21st century of future generations.

There are philosophical aspects, as well as scientific ones.

Just like how Old Su finds it difficult to truly comprehend the concept of a mass three million times that of Earth.

Future generations of humanity are perhaps just another stage of Old Su.

But as for Xu Yun personally...

He holds an optimistic view towards extraterrestrial life.

That is, Earth is not alone, it's just that humans have yet to encounter them.

Even if he disregards rebirth and the mysterious halo, he would not change his mind.

After all, the universe is just too vast.

The known universe has observed roughly hundreds of billions of galaxies, and the Milky Way Galaxy is just one very ordinary galaxy.

Within the Milky Way Galaxy, there are also hundreds of billions of stars.

The Sun is just an extremely ordinary star.

In the entire universe, there are as many as 30 trillion trillion stars. Who can guarantee that there is no other life or even civilization beyond Earth? (doi.org/10.1038%2Fnature0957, data from "nature")

In summary.

The psychological and ideological impact brought to everyone present by today's observations was truly immense, creating a somewhat heavy atmosphere.....

And just when Old Su was about to lighten the mood a bit.

Xiaoli suddenly exclaimed in surprise, pointing towards the direction of the Big Dipper:

"Look over there, there's a comet!"

Upon hearing Xiaoli's words.

Everyone present immediately turned their heads and looked north.

Indeed.

They saw, in a corner of the sky, a long tail slowly flying southward.

Exactly.

A comet is what the ancient Huaxia referred to as 'Starbo.'

This is a common term for comets in ancient Huaxia, other names include 'Pong Star' and 'Long Star.'

It first appeared in the "Spring and Autumn" records of the 14th year of Duke Wen of Lu:

"In autumn, in the seventh month, a Starbo entered the Big Dipper."

Although the name Starbo seems quite elegant, in ancient Huaxia, the implications of comets were not very positive.

In the populace, it was often called a 'broom star' and a 'disaster star,' believed to bring misfortune.

Even someone as rational as Old Su couldn't help but frown when he saw a comet.

But he didn't notice.

Among a group of people frowning, with heavy expressions, and even a faint hint of fear.

Xu Yun, facing the comet, let out a slight sigh of relief.

Goodness.

Finally, you're here.

Indeed.

This comet is one of Xu Yun's core targets this time!

It is designated as 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which returns approximately once every 130 years, and is not a particularly famous comet.

Xu Yun remembers it not by calculating the date, but through memory:

He is from Min Province, Hu Qingren, and his hometown has a renowned figure named Cai Boyi, one of the few historical figures from his hometown.

When Xu Yun was young, he often played near Cai Boyi's stone tablet, which is why he remembers so clearly that Cai Boyi passed away on August 4th, 1100 AD.

According to the epitaph records.

A comet passed the night before Cai Boyi's death, which later became associated with Cai Boyi's cause of death.

Later, when he attended Ke Da, Xu Yun even specially researched the comet's information to confirm its origins.

Two strong impressions combined, impossible to forget.

However, while he cares.

109P/Swift-Tuttle, being not a particularly famous comet, is difficult to observe its nucleus and hair structure through a telescope.

With its relatively fast speed and limited time to adjust the telescope mount, Xu Yun gave up the idea of observing it.

He simply stood on the high platform midway up the mountain with the others, watching the comet disappear into the distance.

A quarter of an hour later.

The comet vanished to the south.

Xu Yun slowly turned around and looked at the not-so-distant Great Song Capital.

Looking at the brightly lit Bianjing City, the corners of his mouth gradually curled up:

Tonight, Xiaozhao and others left the capital to observe the stars; presumably, some artist is also paying attention here.

That is to say.

He will likely see that comet streaking across the sky with his own eyes...

"Next, it's up to you. Don't disappoint me..."

"Rye Erguotou."

.......

Note:

In light of staying up all night to write, please give me some monthly votes, sob sob sob.