How do we know what the milky way looks like if we are in it? - General

We cant possibly send a pod or something out of the milky way. And if we are IN the milky way, how do we know what it looks like and how do we have pictures of it?

Through the magic of SCIENCE! :science:

[QUOTE=guckymister;18499807]We cant possibly send a pod or something out of the milky way. And if we are IN the milky way, how do we know what it looks like and how do we have pictures of it?[/QUOTE] From looking from the inside and making a 3d model using information on how far away other stars and planets are and shit like that.

Giant mirrors.

They stick their dicks in it and post results.

They're all estimations and computer simulations, we don't actually have real pictures of the milky way.

Scientific deduction.

Magic.

Dude its all theories, when they took a picture of the earth, the theory that the earth was round was proven.

[QUOTE=CivilProtection;18499952]They're all estimations and computer simulations, we don't actually have real pictures of the milky way.[/QUOTE] [url]http://schoolnet.gov.mt/earth_universe/images/milkyway.jpg[/url]

I'm pretty sure we just guesstimated, and based the look of our galaxy looks like by taking pictures of others and seeing what they look like.

We do know that it roughly follows one plane because it looks like a band in the sky. From there, we look at both the distances to various stars and the shapes of other galaxies that are roughly flat and stuff like that. Those tell us that it is a spiral. Thus, it is a spiral.

[QUOTE=Ltp0wer;18499924]From looking from the inside and making a 3d model using information on how far away other stars and planets are and shit like that.[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure it's this.

[QUOTE=guckymister;18500049][img]http://schoolnet.gov.mt/earth_universe/images/milkyway.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] That's just Andromeda. [img]http://www.definity-systems.net/~apw/astro/images/andromeda_big.gif[/img]

The same way we illustrate atoms. We don't know, we only assume it by what we see and know about it. Especially by looking at other galaxies in this case.

I think I heard when I was in 5th grade that Voyager 1 or something passed through the outer edge of the Milky Way...

The light is reflected back by God's eye.

[QUOTE=Wiggles;18500144]The light is reflected back by God's eye.[/QUOTE] [img]http://www.pennwellblogs.com/mae/uploaded_images/angry_face-734386.JPG[/img]

[QUOTE=Wiggles;18500144]The light is reflected back by God's eye.[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure that's just the glint of his katana as he fights the devil.

[QUOTE=lemon_lover;18500174]I'm pretty sure that's just the glint of his katana as he fights the devil.[/QUOTE] [img]http://jamie-online.com/random-jamz/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/facepalm.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=The Chef;18500137]I think I heard when I was in 5th grade that Voyager 1 or something passed through the outer edge of the Milky Way...[/QUOTE] I think it's outside our solar system. But not our galaxy. A galaxy contains thousands of solar systems.

My astronomy teacher explained it, its a bit more analog than 3d models. If I remember correctly, I think they use varying star densities and the rates at which they move compared to the slower ones. The spiral arms apparently over take the slower ones. Like the hands on a clock, but the face moves too. Albeit much slower than the hands [spiral arms]. All you need is a telescope and some physics under your belt. Then again it takes millions of years to orbit the galactic center, so I'm probably wrong. [editline]10:30PM[/editline] [QUOTE=dgg;18500194]I think it's outside our Solar System. But not our galaxy.[/QUOTE] Yeah, its the solar system.

[QUOTE=dgg;18500194]I think it's outside our Solar System. But not our galaxy.[/QUOTE] Yeah, it'd take waaaaaaaaay longer before it was on the edge of our galaxy. And that's also waaaaay too far for our current radio transmitters to broadcast. :cheers:

[QUOTE=DarkCybrid;18500212]Yeah, it'd take waaaaaaaaay longer before it was on the edge of our galaxy. And that's also waaaaay too far for our current radio transmitters to broadcast. :cheers:[/QUOTE] Takes 75-ish years to go all the way across. Hitler should be on the radio right about now, over there.

[QUOTE=guckymister;18499807]We cant possibly send a pod or something out of the milky way. And if we are IN the milky way, how do we know what it looks like and how do we have pictures of it?[/QUOTE] THEY'RE ONTO US JONES [img]http://agentjohnson.co.uk/Matrix_Agents.jpg[/img] [editline]07:32PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Analog;18500238]Takes 75-ish years to go all the way across. Hitler should be on the radio right about now, over there.[/QUOTE] Also that's cool.

[QUOTE=guckymister;18499807]We cant possibly send a pod or something out of the milky way. And if we are IN the milky way, how do we know what it looks like and how do we have pictures of it?[/QUOTE] It is simple. We don't

[QUOTE=Reflectent;18500252] [editline]07:32PM[/editline] Also that's cool.[/QUOTE] What? Hitler isn't cool!

[QUOTE=Analog;18500238]Takes 75-ish years to go all the way across. Hitler should be on the radio right about now, over there.[/QUOTE] It takes 75ish years to go across what? Our solar system?

[QUOTE=Reflectent;18500252]Also that's cool.[/QUOTE] Yeah our nearest star is just about getting word of the Indonesian tsunami. [editline]10:38PM[/editline] [QUOTE=RandomE;18500333]It takes 75ish years to go across what? Our solar system?[/QUOTE] 75 years to get across the galaxy @ speed of light. Forgot to mention that. Yeah it would take a very long time for a probe to go that far, if it takes 40ish years just to get out of the solar system. To put things into context, if the sun is a golf ball in NYC, the nearest star is a basketball in Chicago. Earth is a grain of sand two block away.

[QUOTE=Analog;18500356]Yeah our nearest star is just about getting word of the Indonesian tsunami. [editline]10:38PM[/editline] 75 years to get across the galaxy @ speed of light.[/QUOTE] But i said it's too far for our radio transmitters to transmit that far :pseudo: