Posted on 04/09/2005 12:29:34 PM PDT by atomic_dog
Astronomers have figured out why a series of small galaxies surrounding the Milky Way are distributed around it in the shape of a pancake.
Theorists believed that the eleven dwarf galaxy companions should have a diffuse, spherical arrangement.
But a University of Durham team used a supercomputer to show how the galaxies could take the pancake form without challenging cosmological theory.
The results were presented at the UK National Astronomy Meeting.
According to cosmological theory, soon after the Big Bang, cold dark matter formed the first large structures in the Universe, which then collapsed under their own weight to form vast halos.
The gravitational pull of these halos sucked in normal matter, providing a focus for the formation of galaxies.
Galaxies are made up of small fragments that merge together bit by bit.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Galaxies are made up of small fragments that merge together bit by bit.
Wow! Now that's science reporting!
Wow! Now that's science reporting!
TOUCHE' !!!
Good catch.
Not to worry. They'll come up with a new theory in the fall.
With the help of your technical illustration, the quoted assertion is perfectly understandable.
Thanks.
Mmmmmm. Galactic pancakes.
"Theorists believed" "galaxies could" - these are not words of "proof" but of speculation and hypothesis.
If someone doesn't post a Rachel Corrie pic soon, I'll be forced to---anmd I'm waaaay too drunk to do it properly.
The halos aren't the only thing that sucked. ;')
Open Letter to the Scientific Community
New Scientist | May 22, 2004 | see signatures
Posted on 03/28/2005 11:44:29 PM PST by Swordmaker
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1372828/posts
Black hole outburst looks 'faster than light'
CNN | 10/3/02 | Richard Stenger
Posted on 10/03/2002 6:38:29 PM PDT by Andy from Beaverton
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/762548/posts
That's a typical scientist for you. Articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals are full of such hedge-words. Personally, I can't think of any scientist who's going to come out and say, "This is it! Here's what's happening, I HAVE THE ANSWER!" That kind of assertion is completely unthinkable.
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