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Astronomy Picture of the Day
NASA ^ | 5/17/08 | NASA

Posted on 05/17/2008 4:49:06 AM PDT by sig226


Logarithmic Spirals
Image Credit:
M101 - NASA, ESA, CFHT, NOAO; Typhoon Rammasun - MODIS, NASA
Comparison: Lawrence Anderson-Huang (Ritter Astrophysical Obs., Univ. Toledo)

Explanation: Uncomfortably close Typhoon Rammasun (right) and 25 million light-year distant galaxy M101 don't seem to have much in common. For starters, Rammasun was only a thousand kilometers or so across while M101 (aka the Pinwheel Galaxy) spans about 170,000 light-years, making them vastly dissimilar in scale, not to mention the different physical environments that control their formation and development. But they do look amazingly alike: each with arms exhibiting the shape of a simple and beautiful mathematical curve known as a logarithmic spiral, a spiral whose separation grows in a geometric way with increasing distance from the center. Also known as the equiangular spiral, growth spiral, and Bernoulli's spiral or spira mirabilis, this curve's rich properties have fascinated mathematicians since its discovery by 17th century philosopher Descartes. Intriguingly, this abstract shape is much more abundant in nature than suggested by the striking visual comparison above. For example, logarithmic spirals can also describe the tracks of subatomic particles in a bubble chamber, the arrangement of sunflower seeds and, of course, cauliflower.


TOPICS: Astronomy Picture of the Day
KEYWORDS: apod

1 posted on 05/17/2008 4:49:06 AM PDT by sig226
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To: fnord; Number57; KevinDavis; rdb3; MNJohnnie; thoughtomator; RightWhale; proudofthesouth; ...

2 posted on 05/17/2008 4:49:42 AM PDT by sig226 (Real power is not the ability to destroy an enemy. It is the willingness to do it.)
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To: sig226

THAT IS COOL!


3 posted on 05/17/2008 4:51:19 AM PDT by jabonz08 (When rights become privileges, only the privileged will have rights.)
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To: sig226

1. Fascinating
2. LOL!


4 posted on 05/17/2008 4:52:22 AM PDT by PGalt
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To: sig226

Great! Bush strikes again, only thins time him and Rove are wiping our other planets! Its all due to Solar Warming!


5 posted on 05/17/2008 6:03:47 AM PDT by Bommer (There's an (R) next to his name! I must trash my principles & beliefs and vote for the (R)!)
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To: sig226

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven


6 posted on 05/17/2008 11:14:28 AM PDT by mikrofon (Cue the music...)
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To: sig226

btt


7 posted on 05/18/2008 8:43:26 PM PDT by Ciexyz
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