Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[url=http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/05/11/1928665.aspx]A parting shot from outer space - Cosmic Log - msnbc.com[/url]

The Hubble Telescope is getting an upgrade, and the camera that gave us these great images is being replaced:

[url=http://www.worldsfamousphotos.com/eagle-nebula-2000.html]» Eagle Nebula [~2000] - Famous Photo - World’s famous photos[/url]

[url=http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php?pic=v_ultra-deep_field_02.jpg&cap=Astronomers+at+the+Space+Telescope+Science+Institute+today+unveiled+the+deepest+portrait+of+the+visible+universe+ever+achieved+by+humankind.+Called+the+Hubble+Ultra+Deep+Field+%28HUDF%29%2C+the+million-second-long+exposure+reveals+the+first+galaxies+to+emerge+from+the+so-called++dark+ages%2C++the+time+shortly+after+the+big+bang+when+the+first+stars+reheated+the+cold%2C+dark+universe.+Credit%3A+NASA%2C+ESA%2C+S.+Beckwith+%28STScI%29+and+the+HUDF+Team]Image Display[/url]

The second image is, to me, mind blowing. It shows a multitude of galaxies photographed by the hubble (the spots in the image are not stars, but entire galaxies). The size of the are photographed is the equivalent of a the area of a dime held 75 feet away from you.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

That picture of the Eagle Nebula is one of the most amazing photos ever

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

What really blows my mind is to consider time, when viewing those images. If the universe is 13 billion years old, and we're able to receive light that is 12.9 billion years old, we're actually seeing what happened at the beginning of the universe (relatively). Equally mind blowing is the fact that the light we're receiving in no way reflects what is presently happening at the part of space we're receiving the light from.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

Puts into perspective how small we are. Unreal.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=GhettoDogAllStars;556876]What really blows my mind is to consider time, when viewing those images. If the universe is 13 billion years old, and we're able to receive light that is 12.9 billion years old, we're actually seeing what happened at the beginning of the universe (relatively). Equally mind blowing is the fact that the light we're receiving in no way reflects what is presently happening at the part of space we're receiving the light from.[/quote]

Amen. Space-time has got to be the most fascinating concept to think about.

Like how if something is approaching a black hole, once it reaches the event horizon, it would appear to be frozen in time at the event horizon, even though it would have been sucked into the hole in an instant.

The event horizon is the last point at which light can escape the gravitational pull of a black hole. Once you pass that point, even light gets pulled in.

At the event horizon, light moves so slowly away, that the light traveling away from an object there takes forever to get past an outside observer. Giving the appearance of being frozen in time.

I love it.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

Another interesting one to consider is what the universe would look like if you were somehow able to travel at the speed of light.

Light traveling in the same direction as you would always be with you. Light traveling in the same direction as you, but behind you, would never reach you. Light traveling on an intersecting path would be received, but it'd be gone in an instant.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=GhettoDogAllStars;556951]Another interesting one to consider is what the universe would look like if you were somehow able to travel at the speed of light.

Light traveling in the same direction as you would always be with you. Light traveling in the same direction as you, but behind you, would never reach you. Light traveling on an intersecting path would be received, but it'd be gone in an instant.[/quote]

I am pretty sure something like the ending scene of Space Odyssey 2001 would happen.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=GhettoDogAllStars;556951]Another interesting one to consider is what the universe would look like if you were somehow able to travel at the speed of light.

Light traveling in the same direction as you would always be with you. Light traveling in the same direction as you, but behind you, would never reach you. Light traveling on an intersecting path would be received, but it'd be gone in an instant.[/quote]
The speed of light is always constant no matter what speed you are going. As your speed approaches the speed of light, time slows down. Since speed is distance/time, the greater distance light will have to travel will balance out with the slowed down time, so the speed of light will always stay the same. This means light that is behind you will still reach you.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

Know the worst thing about those first two things you posted? They aren't as pretty as they appear. They add in fake color so you can see the clouds/etc easier. A lot of those images are enhanced.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=Daseal;556985]Know the worst thing about those first two things you posted? They aren't as pretty as they appear. They add in fake color so you can see the clouds/etc easier. A lot of those images are enhanced.[/quote]

Yeah people complain about that, but really it's not changing the content of the picture. Yeah the color makes things easier to see and it does make it "prettier" but still the meaning of the pictures is, to me at least, what's more amazing. Taking a picture of something that took place 12 billion years ago. That's sick

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=GhettoDogAllStars;556951]Another interesting one to consider is what the universe would look like if you were somehow able to travel at the speed of light.

Light traveling in the same direction as you would always be with you. Light traveling in the same direction as you, but behind you, would never reach you. Light traveling on an intersecting path would be received, but it'd be gone in an instant.[/quote]

If you were traveling at the speed of light, you would see the following:

- Look directly behind you and see exactly what you saw the instant you jumped to the speed of light. Everything would appear to be frozen in time.

- Look directly ahead of you and see things happening in fast forward. Light from events happening in front of you would come towards you at the speed of light, while you travel towards it at the speed of light. Things will appear to be moving in slow motion.

- Once you pass by said thing, look backwards and you'll see it frozen in time as it looked at the instant you went by it.

- Look to either side and see pure blackness except for instantaneous flashes of events occurring as you briefly intersect the light's path. You'd see a strobe effect.

Trippy.

Said differently, time for things behind you would appear to stop. Time for things in front of you would appear to speed up.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

I'll treasure the pictures but I'd rather have the astronauts home same.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

If your driving 60mph towards a car that's traveling 60mph, it is like your traveling 120 mph towards the car. With the speed of light, this is not true.

Speed of light is 299,792,458 mps, so if your traveling 60mps towards the speed of light.... the light is still coming at you at a constant 299,792,458 mps.


Nutso.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

The speed of light is 186,282 miles per SECOND. That means in one second you could travel the circumference of the planet earth (24,901 miles) 7.5 times. In one second. That's crazy.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=SmootSmack;556998]Yeah people complain about that, but really it's not changing the content of the picture. Yeah the color makes things easier to see and it does make it "prettier" but still the meaning of the pictures is, to me at least, what's more amazing. Taking a picture of something that took place 12 billion years ago. That's sick[/quote]

Silly complaint to me, it's not changing what's there it's just enhancing it so you can see it.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=Daseal;556985]Know the worst thing about those first two things you posted? They aren't as pretty as they appear. They add in fake color so you can see the clouds/etc easier. A lot of those images are enhanced.[/quote]

Puppy kicker.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=FRPLG;557050]Puppy kicker.[/quote]

In fact, Hubble was able to capture an image of one of Daseal's [url=http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1432/1251125299_f0fb55656a.jpg]exploits[/url]

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=SmootSmack;557059]In fact, Hubble was able to capture an image of one of Daseal's [url=http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1432/1251125299_f0fb55656a.jpg]exploits[/url][/quote]

LOL! Did you make that your self? If so, props.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=GMScud;557017]The speed of light is 186,282 miles per SECOND. That means in one second you could travel the circumference of the planet earth (24,901 miles) 7.5 times. In one second. That's crazy.[/quote]

Yeah, and there'd be time dilation, as steveo alluded to. I'm not sure of the math, but imagine orbiting Earth at the speed of light for a few weeks. Years would have passed on Earth, but for you it has only been a few weeks.

This is basically what makes long-distance space travel impractical. If we were able to travel the speed of light, it'd still take a lifetime to reach the nearest galaxy. All the while, time would be passing much quicker on Earth. So, if it takes 75 years at the speed of light to reach Andromeda, thousands of years could be passing on Earth during your voyage. Hell, the human race could become extinct before you even reached your destination. Warp drive is the only way!

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

Don't get me wrong, it's absolutely astounding how massive space is, and the fact that those are galaxies is just staggering. I guess I was just horribly depressed when I found out space isn't as pretty as I thought!

I took a cosmology class for an elective, the stuff we learned was mind blowing. Definitely fun if anyone else is looking for a sweet non-lab science!

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=GhettoDogAllStars;557071]LOL! Did you make that your self? If so, props.[/quote]

Um....yeah, yeah that's it. I made it myself. Sure

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

[quote=GhettoDogAllStars;557074]Yeah, and there'd be time dilation, as steveo alluded to. I'm not sure of the math, but imagine orbiting Earth at the speed of light for a few weeks. Years would have passed on Earth, but for you it has only been a few weeks.

This is basically what makes long-distance space travel impractical. If we were able to travel the speed of light, it'd still take a lifetime to reach the nearest galaxy. All the while, time would be passing much quicker on Earth. So, if it takes 75 years at the speed of light to reach Andromeda, thousands of years could be passing on Earth during your voyage. Hell, the human race could become extinct before you even reached your destination. Warp drive is the only way![/quote]

It's what also makes it highly unlikely that if there were life outside of earth (civilized life) that we could ever communicate with them. Because they're either way way way ahead of us, or us of them.

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

But the Vulcans are watching us, and preparing us through Star Trek and other shows, preparing us for the day they introduce our leaders to Warp Technology. I only hope we are a level 3 civilization (or whatever it was Saden linked to the other day) when they show us the way!

Re: Thanks for the snapshots Hubble
 

I just hope we are not along an interstellar highway. Otherwise, one day spaceships may descend through the clouds and announce:

"This is Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz of the Galactic Hyperspace Planning Counci. As you will no doubt be aware, the plans for development of the outlying regions of the Galaxy require the building of a hyperspatial express route through your star system, and regrettably your planet is one of those scheduled for demolition. The process will take slightly less that two of your Earth minutes. Thank you."

Seriously, not only is it impossible to imagine the vastness and timelessness of space, think of this: In all of that enormity, there is only one being [I]exactly[/I] like you.