Posted on 01/13/2017 6:13:38 PM PST by MtnClimber
Once we discovered that the Universe was expanding, the next scientific step was to determine what the rate of expansion was. Despite the fact that it's been more than 80 years, we still don't have agreement on how fast that rate actually is. By looking at the largest cosmic scales and the oldest signals -- the leftover radiation from the Big Bang and the largest-scale galaxy correlations -- we get one number for the rate: 67 km/s/Mpc. But if we look at individual stars, galaxies, supernovae and other direct indicators, we get another number: 74 km/s/Mpc. The uncertainties are very small: ±1 on the first number and ±2 on the second; statistically, there's less than a 0.1% chance these numbers will reconcile with one another.....
In 1923, Edwin Hubble was using the world's largest telescope to look for novae in other galaxies. I shouldn't say "galaxies" just yet, because humanity wasn't yet certain what those spirals in the sky were. While looking at the largest one -- M31, now known as the Andromeda galaxy -- he saw first one, then a second, then a third nova. But when the fourth one came, it would change everything. It occurred in the exact same location as the first, which was an impossibility, since novae takes centuries or more to recharge, yet this one had recurred in less than a week. Excitedly, Hubble crossed out the first "N" he wrote and replaced it, in red, with "VAR!" He realized it was a variable star, and since the physics of that particular class of variable star was known, he could calculate the distance to Andromeda. He showed it was well outside of the Milky Way, making it a galaxy unto itself. It was the greatest observation of a single star in astronomical history.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
We will never know everything and may not be able to see far enough to know much about the outer universe except what it was like billions of years ago. The light from most stars in distant galaxies come from stars that don’t even exist anymore.
Of course. All our “measuring rods” are expanding as well.
Revisionist history here. The truth is that almost all our astronomical knowledge came from the ancient black Egyptians, data collected as they flew from Memphis to Thebes in their high altitude gliders.
How can something infinite be expanding? What was there before it expanded into it?
The expansion of the Universe represents a lot of energy. Where did the energy come from? And don’t say from the Big Bang. That energy predates the Big Bang.
Next step is to read St Thomas of Aquinas about the Unmoved Mover.
L. Ron Hubbard couldn’t be reached for comment.
what is the universe expanding into?
I know the universe is expanding, IO cam tell.
I am also expanding.
And it seems pretty fast over this last month os so.
Expanding more into itself.
But, but I thought science knew everything. So sayeth the Democrats.
I think that is one of the big questions.
METROLOGY RULES!...Or does it?
Something significantly smaller than Obama's ego.
Just be careful of that Big Bang.
Well, clearly we need a consensus of published scientists in order to find out.
imagination
Until they figure out how fast the universe is expanding, they won’t know who is to blame—Bush or Trump.
Until they figure out how fast the universe is expanding, they won’t know who is to blame—Bush or Trump.
Just declare the science is settled and be done with it. If declaring science settled with climate change, it’s good enough for astrophysics.
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