The wonders of space

joanlawson
joanlawson Member Posts: 8,681
edited 11. Aug 2010, 19:22 in Community Chit-chat archive
Hi

I've just been looking at these new pictures from space, and I find them truly inspiring. See them on these links:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1301584/New-image-galaxies-slowly-crash-millions-years.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1300874/Solar-tsunami-First-picture-Sun-middle-storm.html

It's incredible to think that the collision of the Antennae galaxies started 100 million years ago, and it is still going on. Also that we can see an image of something 62 million light years from Earth. I also like the picture of the aurorae over Denmark.

It's all fascinating, and makes our planet seem so tiny and insignificant.

Joan
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Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My small brain really cannot comprehend such big figures - nor the fact that space goes on and on and on and on ad infinitum. I agree tho - stunning items. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,027
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Wow Joan

    Like DD - dont get the theory, but

    Those pictures are absolutely beautiful :D

    Love

    Overawed Toni xx
  • trisher
    trisher Member Posts: 9,263
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Joan

    That is truely amazing, it is hard to get your head around it. Did you see it on the news Joan that was very interesting too.

    Have you ever watch the fanastic pictures from The Hubble Telescope? I watched a new star being born. Also saw the Black Hole the Milky Way and many more.

    I'm really interested in these marvels that take place.

    Love Trish xxx
  • ninakang
    ninakang Member Posts: 1,367
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Amazing, fascinating pictures, Joan, as always. Thanks

    Nina X
  • joanlawson
    joanlawson Member Posts: 8,681
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi DD, Toni, Trish an Nina

    I'm glad you liked the pictures. Yes, Trish, I have seen the pictures from the Hubble telescope. Here's the link: http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire. They are fantastic!

    As you said, DD, it is difficult to comprehend how space can just go on and on ad infinitum. The more we discover, the more questions arise.

    I am hoping that Mell will see this thread because I know that he is interested in space.
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  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi joan it is amazing what is out there and how small we are in the whole
    val
  • mellman01
    mellman01 Member Posts: 5,306
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    What worries me is there is a new theory out that sort of blows away our old understanding of space time, it's in this months new scientist under physics, sort of messed my head up, I couldn't copy a link but it is open to read on line, so if anyone can let me know what the hell it's all about then please tell me OK!
  • ninakang
    ninakang Member Posts: 1,367
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Sorry Mel, even if I did find the link I wouldn't be any help whatsoever as I never got my head round the current theory about space. I don't think my brain is large enough... or sumfink like that!

    Nx

    PS - it looks pretty though!
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Ummmm, OK mell, I'll try. (Oh what have I said?) DD

    Right: it's a few minutes later and I've read it. Fundamentally, I think he's saying that our thoughts on cosmology are based on assumptions that the universe is the same throughout. This is frequentist reasoning but what should be applied is Bayesian reasoning, which takes other factors into account. (The author used the example of the aliens and the airline pilot to explain this reasoning.)

    Our tendency is to rely on statistics to make sense of the models behind biology, medicine, economics and environmental science, but Bayesian principles should be brought into them too. Getting cosmology theories wrong has little real-world consequences, but could radically alter the other strands mentioned above.

    Did I read the right article? DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • ninakang
    ninakang Member Posts: 1,367
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm going to have a lie down :shock:
  • joanlawson
    joanlawson Member Posts: 8,681
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    mellman01 wrote:
    What worries me is there is a new theory out that sort of blows away our old understanding of space time, it's in this months new scientist under physics, sort of messed my head up, I couldn't copy a link but it is open to read on line, so if anyone can let me know what the hell it's all about then please tell me OK!

    Hi Mell

    I did read the article, but like you, I found it hard going to understand.

    Did you see that there is going to be a meteor shower ( the Perseid meteor shower ) on Thursday night/ Friday morning this week? It is likely to be particularly good this year.

    http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/08/moonless-sky-paves-way-for-daz.html

    I once watched this when I was on holiday in Majorca and it was a very clear sky. It was an amazing sight as there can be 100 meteors per hour. It was a sight I will never forget.
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