"The closest human beings will likely be the astronauts aboard the ISS."

October 13, 2024 9:40 AM

On Point Nemo, the most remote place on earth (Cullen Murphy for The Atlantic)
posted by box (15 comments total)

Related: What is the furthest one human being has ever been from every other living person? Were they lonely?
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 9:54 AM on October 13 [1 favorite]

thanks for the artickle! This was a fun read
posted by djseafood at 10:20 AM on October 13 [4 favorites]

These two articles really highlight how remote the moon is, and how even the most remote places on earth are relatively well populated. The Point Nemo story talks about sailing teams competing in around the world races, but there are also SOLO circumnavigators which must be one of the most alone activities someone can do on earth. However even then, there are shipping lanes well within 3000km and ISS may be just above.

Then of course I thought of our real final frontier. Apparently the record for deepest crewed submarine dive is 10,927 meters, set by Victor Vescovo in 2019. But it can be hard to tell which dives were done solo and which had passengers.
posted by muddgirl at 12:12 PM on October 13

Alone, but ungated
posted by chavenet at 12:23 PM on October 13 [1 favorite]

Wait total metric fail, 10,000 METERS is way less than 3000 kilometers ☠️
posted by muddgirl at 12:23 PM on October 13

that was a great read!! I did not know the ISS is going to be decommissioned, but I guess its getting pretty old.
posted by supermedusa at 12:28 PM on October 13

"To an astrophysicist, remoteness is never far away."
posted by Not A Thing at 12:30 PM on October 13 [2 favorites]

I have failed in trying to google map this place.

Spooky
posted by Windopaene at 1:42 PM on October 13

I just googled Point Nemo and that showed it ok? The longitude and latitude given in the article are not in an ideal format.
posted by biffa at 2:10 PM on October 13

Will try again
posted by Windopaene at 3:17 PM on October 13

Link I get says there is a great takeout place there.
LOLOLOL
posted by Windopaene at 3:23 PM on October 13

“There’s something very special,” Fisher said, “about knowing you’re someplace where everybody else isn’t.”

As an enthusiast of TransAtlantic crossings on the Queen Mary 2, this is a feeling I recognize in a profound way. It's something I contemplate as I stare into the blackness outside, while sipping my Gibson in the Chart Room jazz bar.
posted by Capt. Renault at 5:14 PM on October 13 [2 favorites]

I love how winning the Vendee Globe often involves sailing right by there.
posted by ocschwar at 7:49 PM on October 13

Google Earth link?
posted by nostrada at 2:40 AM on October 14 [1 favorite]

What a nice article, thanks. The ocean continues to terrify me. One little bit stuck with me: what view ISS astronauts see in any particular time flying endlessly around the Earth is about the size of Brazil. I hope they someday get the GPS receivers and a geodetic-survey markers installed!
posted by fridgebuzz at 3:32 AM on October 14 [1 favorite]