New Hubble Pictures Reveal Warped View of Galaxies
69 replies, posted
[URL]http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/07/hubble-frontier-abell-s1063-galaxies-clusters-gravity-star-trek-space-science/[/URL]
[QUOTE]Abell S1063 also piques astronomers’ interest because it acts like a cosmic magnifying glass. The cluster’s intense gravity warps the spacetime around it and bends passing light, much like a lens—a key prediction of Einstein’s theory of general relativity.[/QUOTE]
[t]http://news.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/news/2016/07/20/01-hubble-baby-galaxy.adapt.590.1.jpg[/t]
I couldn't even begin to imagine that light would bend simply from a large cluster of galaxies and yet here I am, looking at an image of a large cluster of galaxies bending light.
That is one massive thought i was made to think.
And of fucking course einstein was right all along again
Its funny how it's still called a theory at this point
[QUOTE=MendozaMan;50802574]And of fucking course einstein was right all along again
Its funny how it's still called a theory at this point[/QUOTE]
A theory is above a law in the scientific realm
[QUOTE=MendozaMan;50802574]And of fucking course einstein was right all along again
Its funny how it's still called a theory at this point[/QUOTE]
Scientific theory is different from the normal use of the word "theory", in that it means something that is supported by so much evidence that it is unlikely to be disproven
[QUOTE=MendozaMan;50802574]And of fucking course einstein was right all along again
Its funny how it's still called a theory at this point[/QUOTE]
We are constrained to inductive reasoning in the field of science unfortunately.
[QUOTE=Sprockethead;50802484]That is one massive thought i was made to think.[/QUOTE]
I feel you.
[quote]The cluster’s intense gravity warps the spacetime around it and bends passing light[/quote]
Is this the proper phrasing for it? So gigantic clusters of extreme gravity are basically warping the visage of [i]spacetime[/i]? It makes sense but that's just kind of terrifying.
[QUOTE=RikohZX;50802655]Is this the proper phrasing for it? So gigantic clusters of extreme gravity are basically warping the visage of [i]spacetime[/i]? It makes sense but that's just kind of terrifying.[/QUOTE]
individual stars red shift light, black holes and galaxies are just going to be far more extreme, and sometimes even optically visible distortions.
Space is so large that even our smallest measurements of it don't really "click" in our heads natively.
[QUOTE=RikohZX;50802655]Is this the proper phrasing for it? So gigantic clusters of extreme gravity are basically warping the visage of [i]spacetime[/i]? It makes sense but that's just kind of terrifying.[/QUOTE]
Haven't you seen interstellar? Gravity and time are co-related concepts, disturbingly. These galaxies are so massive that they are bending - among other things; time itself.
[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;50802580]A theory is above a law in the scientific realm[/QUOTE]
not really
idk how this continues to be perpetuated, but a scientific theory isnt greater or less than a law. It's a different concept entirely. A law is an observation of something that happens the same way every time, such as the law of gravity. Math. The theory of gravity explains how the process occurs.
Sometimes certain things are called "Blank's Law" or whatever and are named after people and it gets somewhat ambiguous there, but those are just names that hold no bearing on the distinction between a true law or theory.
Why are people in this thread surprised? This is not the first time we've seen lensing, and I don't think it's even the first time we've seen galaxies do it.
[QUOTE=MendozaMan;50802574]And of fucking course einstein was right all along again
Its funny how it's still called a theory at this point[/QUOTE]
Scientific Theories are different than the regular usage of the word theory.
[QUOTE=thrawn2787;50802677]Why are people in this thread surprised? This is not the first time we've seen lensing, and I don't think it's even the first time we've seen galaxies do it.[/QUOTE]
It's not something people spend a lot of time talking about, now it's kinda popped up, so we are talking about it. With all the bright-eyed wonder the topic deserves.
I hope that cleared things up for you.
[QUOTE=RikohZX;50802655]Is this the proper phrasing for it? So gigantic clusters of extreme gravity are basically warping the visage of [i]spacetime[/i]? It makes sense but that's just kind of terrifying.[/QUOTE]
Earth curves space time. When you fall towards it you do so because you're traveling along the curved space time geodesics caused by Earth. Light is also "bent" by Earth since it also travels along the curved space. Iirc lensing was first proved observing lensing from the sun. But you need really massive stuff for it to be as severe as the pic in the op.
I wish I could explore the solar systems in those galaxies.
Don´t we all Abadda,don´t we all wish that.
space is beautiful
Perhaps if you were to look through gravitational lenses in correct arrangement, you'd have a looking glass of galactic scale?
[QUOTE=RikohZX;50802655]Is this the proper phrasing for it? So gigantic clusters of extreme gravity are basically warping the visage of [i]spacetime[/i]? It makes sense but that's just kind of terrifying.[/QUOTE]
All gravity bends space-time
So if I understand this correctly...is it then possible for light to eventually travel back towards the direction it came from without hitting a reflective object? Like for it to just bend over time until it eventually turns around.
Because oddly enough after watching a few episodes of Cosmo I had a weird dream where the universe was dying and the only thing left was one massive black hole and the remaining light heading into it. It was trippy.
[QUOTE=IceWarrior98;50803867]So if I understand this correctly...is it then possible for light to eventually travel back towards the direction it came from without hitting a reflective object? Like for it to just bend over time until it eventually turns around.
Because oddly enough after watching a few episodes of Cosmo I had a weird dream where the universe was dying and the only thing left was one massive black hole and the remaining light heading into it. It was trippy.[/QUOTE]
black holes do basically this
speaking of, could this not be a black hole between here and the cluster? can't read article atm so not sure if its proven against
There is the possibility of rogue black holes.
[QUOTE=MendozaMan;50802574]And of fucking course einstein was right all along again
Its funny how it's still called a theory at this point[/QUOTE]
it's not like he was always right, he firmly believed quantum mechanics didnt exist
[QUOTE=uitham;50804543]it's not like he was always right, he firmly believed quantum mechanics didnt exist[/QUOTE]
He didn't believe that it didn't exist, the experiments obviously showed that it did (and he contributed a lot to that research). He believed the apparent fact that it only makes probabilistic predictions was caused by our ignorance of all of what's going on, and something deterministic really underlies quantum mechanics.
There are plenty of modern interpretations of quantum mechanics that Einstein would like much better than what was around in his time.
[QUOTE=thrawn2787;50802677]Why are people in this thread surprised? This is not the first time we've seen lensing, and I don't think it's even the first time we've seen galaxies do it.[/QUOTE]
because facepunch isn't the NASA employee forum
[QUOTE=geogzm;50807989]because facepunch isn't the NASA employee forum[/QUOTE]
these pictures literally always get press though
its like you've never seen a picture of space
[t]http://www.space.com/images/i/000/051/069/original/MACSJ0717.5-3745.jpg?1445794609[/t]
[t]https://cdn.spacetelescope.org/archives/images/wallpaper5/potw1506a.jpg[/t]
[QUOTE=thrawn2787;50808139]these pictures literally always get press though
its like you've never seen a picture of space[/QUOTE]
Well, that's only slightly condescending.
I, for one, was under the impression that gravitational lensing of light had not yet been observed, so when I saw that we had pictures of it I was delighted. I think most around here were probably under the same impression. Most of us aren't as keen of followers of space-related news as you might be, so I'd reckon "Its like you've never seen a picture of space" is a bit harsh.
I still have to thank you for the awesome pictures, though.
[QUOTE=Smug Bastard;50802326][t]http://news.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/news/2016/07/20/01-hubble-baby-galaxy.adapt.590.1.jpg[/t][/QUOTE]when i see shit like this, all i can think of is endless possibility
really makes it hard to believe that there isn't something else out there, also looking at the stars, wondering if we exist as well
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