Astronomy Picture of the Day

NASA ^ | 9/06/09 | DMR, COBE, NASA,

[sig226]

CMBR Dipole: Speeding Through the Universe
Credit: DMR, COBE, NASA, Four-Year Sky Map

Explanation: Our Earth is not at rest. The Earth moves around the Sun. The Sun orbits the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. The Milky Way Galaxy orbits in the Local Group of Galaxies. The Local Group falls toward the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies. But these speeds are less than the speed that all of these objects together move relative to the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR). In the above all-sky map from the COBE satellite, radiation in the Earth's direction of motion appears blueshifted and hence hotter, while radiation on the opposite side of the sky is redshifted and colder. The map indicates that the Local Group moves at about 600 kilometers per second relative to this primordial radiation. This high speed was initially unexpected and its magnitude is still unexplained. Why are we moving so fast? What is out there?

[sig226]

Like wow, man.

[sig226]

[ClearCase_guy]

[TheZMan]

As much as we will ever know, there will still be tons that are a complete mystery.

[ETL]

We orbit the Sun at about 66,000 miles per hour. That’s approximately 18 miles per second!

[ETL]

In some ways, the Microwave Background might actually serve as a “universal reference frame” to which *absolute* motion can be determined. According to Einsten’s theory, there is no such thing as absolute motion or absolute time.

[Pistolshot]

Interesting, however, the perspective is from one direction only. If it were possible to observe this from the areas that appear to be moving slower, it would help provide an answer to what is going on in the center.

Quite possibly we, including the local galaxy cluster, are in an arm of a moving vortex around a central group of black holes.

Like watching water go down a drain, some parts move faster than others.

I know that is a very simplified explanation as there are other forces that affect the movement, but it is the easiest way to convey the idea of what is possibly happening.

[Daffynition]

[Kolb]

[WSGilcrest]

http://images.yorli.multiply.com/content/movie/yorli:video:1/yorli/1.swf/qhZNRVy07s93r1eQ8pXFzg/galaxy.swf?nmid=71569072

[TheOldLady]

My first thought.

[calex59]

Now there is a lie if I ever saw one. Time most certainly does exist. With or without clocks, time keeps moving on. If it didn’t we could stop aging as soon as we destroyed every clock in the world.

[Daffynition]

To you, what is time? Define it, as you understand it.

[null and void]

“Why are we moving so fast?”

Because we have to run as fast as we can to stay in one place...

[null and void]

If it didn’t we could stop aging as soon as we destroyed every clock in the world.

An experiment worth trying...

[going hot]

“Why are we moving so fast?”

To get to the other side quicker?

[Blogger]

What is aging? A degradation of the original? Do other things degrade that aren’t related to time necessarily but perhaps more to use? Can a young person show signs of aging due to overuse of knees, cartilage, etc.,? Time exists for us, but not for the Creator. It is a created thing - and organizational device.

[calex59]

Aging is a direct results of time. Let enough time go by and you will age, whether a clock is involved or not. Cars will rust away, a dead body will decompose, trees will grow. Time, the 4th dimension, is very real, regardless of clocks. Your argument is juvenile and more than a little stupid.

[Blogger]

And a good day to you too.

[sig226]

When are we gonna get there?