Video on the Universe

Postby Jack Roper » Sat Dec 14, 2013 9:51 pm

This is amazing; makes you realize how small we are on this sorry planet with all of our petty problems.


Hubble Pointing at Nothing This is fascinating. Apparently our planet, even our
galaxy, is like a tiny speck of sand on an immense ocean beach. In
1996 astronomers pointed the Hubble Space Telescope at what appeared
to be absolutely nothing and left it there for 10 days, and then in
2004, they did it again for 11 days. This time they pointed the Hubble toward another seemingly
black, empty "nothing" area. A narrator describes what Hubble
revealed in those areas of nothingness. They made the images Hubble
recorded into a 3-D presentation. Remember, the speed of light is
186,000 miles a second. When light travels at that speed for an
entire year, that is equal to one light year. The meaning of what
Hubble found in some ways is beyond comprehension. Turn your sound on.

http://www.flixxy.com/hubble-ultra-deep-field-3d.htm

Re: Video on the Universe

Postby drawscore » Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:17 pm

The speed of light, and the distances traveled, are sometimes difficult to comprehend. That being said, if a person could travel at the speed of light at the Equator, he would be able to circle the earth seven and a half times in one second.

It takes the light from the sun eight minutes to reach the earth.

At the speed of light, it would take four and a half years to reach Proxima Centuri, the star next closest to the earth.

Astronomy is a fascinating science.

Drawscore

Re: Video on the Universe

Postby Jason Toddman » Mon Dec 16, 2013 10:49 am

drawscore wrote:Astronomy is a fascinating science.
Drawscore

Yes it is. So much so it should even be taught in churches. I mean, after all, if Christians believe in the greatness of God, what better subject is there to back up such a claim as Astronomy? Or, to be more comprehensive, Astrophysics?
The fact that Astronomy (particularly planetary/exo-planetary Astronomy) is my all-time favorite scientific subject of course has no bearing on my opinion; that's just a coincidence.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Video on the Universe

Postby Jack Roper » Mon Dec 16, 2013 4:06 pm

Holy cow! It looks like I've hit on a subject that all three of us can finally agree on--the Universe!

Re: Video on the Universe

Postby drawscore » Mon Dec 16, 2013 4:26 pm

If you believe in God, and know the vastness of the universe, it is hard to believe that God, in His infinite wisdom, would confine life as we know it, to one infinitesimal speck in that vast universe. And even if you don't believe in God, it is difficult to comprehend that, out of the billions, or even decillions (1, followed by 33 zeros) of stars out there, if even 1% have planets capable of supporting life as we know it, then we are not alone.

Drawscore

Re: Video on the Universe

Postby sarobah » Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:29 pm

drawscore wrote:It takes the light from the sun eight minutes to reach the earth.

Bizarre fact... It takes a photon generated at the edge of the Sun's core up to ten million years to reach the solar surface (a distance of 540,000 kilometres) and eight and a half minutes to travel the next 150,000,000 kilometres to Earth.
Words, like Nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.

Re: Video on the Universe

Postby Jack Roper » Mon Dec 16, 2013 6:48 pm

Sara, that reminds me of the quote by Woody Allen:

"I’m astounded by people who want to ‘know’ the universe when it’s hard enough to find your way around Chinatown."

And probably as hard to get out of as a photon from the center of the sun.

Re: Video on the Universe

Postby sarobah » Mon Dec 16, 2013 7:32 pm

And the photon’s path is called a random walk… which basically describes my efforts to find my way around the campus or neighbourhood. (Some of us have not been blessed with a keen sense of direction.)

Another interesting fact about the Sun… it is less efficient in producing heat than the human body.
Words, like Nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.

Re: Video on the Universe

Postby ebascoray » Mon Dec 16, 2013 9:20 pm

Thanks for posting that, and the link to the Website, Jack Roper. That is truly profound. Another really profound video to watch, which can be found on the Internet, is a video called "The Pale Blue Dot." That is profound and humbling, also. It's something that Carl Sagan put together years ago. Thanks again, J.R.

Ebascoray

Re: Video on the Universe

Postby sarobah » Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:01 am

ebascoray wrote:Another really profound video to watch, which can be found on the Internet, is a video called "The Pale Blue Dot." That is profound and humbling, also. It's something that Carl Sagan put together years ago. Thanks again, J.R.

Speaking of Sagan... Cosmos.
In terms of content, it's dated. But I am by profession an astronomer, and I still get goosebumps whenever I watch it.
Episode 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa1ImgOcOPM
Words, like Nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.

Re: Video on the Universe

Postby Jason Toddman » Tue Dec 17, 2013 6:34 am

sarobah wrote:Speaking of Sagan... Cosmos.

Did you know they are making a new version with Neil Degrasse Tyson as the host? Sounds promising.
http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2013/07/c ... sse-tyson/
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Video on the Universe

Postby sarobah » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:47 am

Jason Toddman wrote:Did you know they are making a new version with Neil Degrasse Tyson as the host? Sounds promising.
http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2013/07/c ... sse-tyson/

Tyson is definitely a worthy successor to Sagan. He has the same sense of excitement and wonder about the universe.
Words, like Nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.