Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: ukmicky on 24/06/2006 16:29:16
-
The mass of the sun curves and warps space far beyond the orbit of our planet and so due to our proximaty to the sun could their be a lensing effect on our view of the rest of the galaxy and universe. Could we sort of be within the lens if you get what i mean, meaning our view of everything is altered from true reality.
Michael
-
I'd say, most definitely, Michael. However, the effect, I would imagine, is slight. And, if anything, the gravity of the Earth would have more effect than the Sun?
__________________________________________________________
Roy P
-
I've heard all about this lensing stuff !...I would agree that I suspect the Sun just ain't that large enough (or dense enough) to warp the view that greatly !
See ?...I'm far more cleverer than that Soul Surfer Ian bloke ! [:D]
Men are the same as women, just inside out !
-
quote:
Originally posted by neilep
I've heard all about this lensing stuff !...I would agree that I suspect the Sun just ain't that large enough (or dense enough) to warp the view that greatly !
The 1919 solar eclipse was used to show the gravitational lensing by our sun,
(you're right Neil, it is a subtle but measurable effect):-
"Observe during a total eclipse, when the Sun’s light is blotted out for a few minutes, and you can see distant stars that appear close to the Sun in the sky. If Einstein was right, the Sun’s gravity would shift these stars to slightly different positions, compared to where they are seen in the night sky at other times of the year when the Sun far away from them. The closer the star appears to the Sun during totality, the bigger the shift would be."
http://www.firstscience.com/site/articles/coles.asp
-
Gravitational lensing does have an effect on our view of the universe but only over very small angles, seconds of arc, like the effect of the sun lensing efects are used in astronomy to observe things that would otherwise not be observable. For example the gravitational effect of large galaxies and clusters of galaxies can show us galaxies at much greater distance by focussing their light in our direction.
There is also a research project looking for small planets and stars by using their gravitational lensing effects to cause background stars to brighten and darken in a particular pattern. It has come up with several examples already.
I expect that in a few years when our ability to map the details of the cosmic microwave background radiation gets to a fine enough resolution gravitational lensing will tell us a lot more about the basic structure of dark matter within the universe.
Learn, create, test and tell
evolution rules in all things
God says so!
-
Gravitational lensing does have an effect on our view of the universe but only over very small angles, seconds of arc, like the effect of the sun lensing efects are used in astronomy to observe things that would otherwise not be observable. For example the gravitational effect of large galaxies and clusters of galaxies can show us galaxies at much greater distance by focussing their light in our direction.
There is also a research project looking for small planets and stars by using their gravitational lensing effects to cause background stars to brighten and darken in a particular pattern. It has come up with several examples already.
I expect that in a few years when our ability to map the details of the cosmic microwave background radiation gets to a fine enough resolution gravitational lensing will tell us a lot more about the basic structure of dark matter within the universe.
Learn, create, test and tell
evolution rules in all things
God says so!