Thanks for the snapshots Hubble

[JoeRedskin]

A parting shot from outer space - Cosmic Log - msnbc.com

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

» Eagle Nebula [~2000] - Famous Photo - World’s famous photos

Image Display

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.

[SmootSmack]

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

[GhettoDogAllStars]

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.

[GMScud]

Puts into perspective how small we are. Unreal.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

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.

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.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

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.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

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.

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

[steveo395]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

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.

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.

[Daseal]

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.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Daseal

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.

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

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

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.

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.

[Trample the Elderly]

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

[RobH4413]

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.

[GMScud]

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.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

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

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