Astronomy Picture of the Day

NASA ^ | 10/28/09 | various

[sig226]

JKCS041: The Farthest Galaxy Cluster Yet Measured
Credit: X-ray: NASA, CXC, INAF, S. Andreon et al.; Optical: DSS, ESO/VLT

Explanation: What if we could see back to the beginning of the universe? We can -- since it takes the age of the universe for light to cross the universe. Peering at distant objects, therefore, tells us about how the universe used to be, even near its beginning. Since telescopes are therefore also time portals, observations of distant clusters can be used, for example, to investigate when and how these huge galaxy conglomerations formed. Previously, the redshift record for a galaxy cluster was about 1.5, corresponding to about nine billion light years distant. Recently, using data including X-ray images from the orbiting Chandra X-Ray Observatory, a new farthest cluster was identified. Shown above, JKCS041 is seen at redshift 1.9, corresponding to nearly one billion light years farther than the previous record holder. The hot X-ray gas that confirmed the apparent galaxy grouping as a true cluster of galaxies is shown above in diffuse blue, superposed on an optical image showing many foreground stars. JKCS041 is seen today as it appeared at only one quarter of the present age of the universe.

[jbp1]

ahhh the goood ol days

back then we had to push the photons out of our torches

electrons only spun in one direction........

[ASU_94]

And to think...all of this came about by chance, matter, and time. WOW!!! (heavy on the sarc)

[JPG]

Dang, we can’t even scratch the surface of understanding the painting much less the painter.

[dainbramaged]

Reminds me of that sailor’s prayer - “Lord, thy sea is so great and my ship is so small”.

[imjimbo]

A photo like this makes me wonder how anyone could see and understand it and still not believe in God.

[sig226]

yup. we didn't even have avogadro's number; all we had was 6.02 x 10^11.5

[ShadowAce]

...since it takes the age of the universe for light to cross the universe.

Just a nit to pick here, but it doesn't.

If the universe is expanding at the speed of light in all directions, then the universe is expanding at twice the speed of light. Thus light from the "eastern" edge of the universe would take twice as long to reach the "western" edge of the universe as the universe is old.

[HighlyOpinionated]

If the universe is expanding at the speed of light in all directions, then the universe is expanding at twice the speed of light.

Except that if you believe that ~~ In the Beginning, G*D said: "Light, be" [direct translation of the Hebrew] and that He never said "Light, stop," then the Universe is expanding at "twice the speed of sound."

Thus at 2(340.29 m / s) instead of 2(299 792 458 m / s). And if this is true, then the universe is younger than people want to admit.