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Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: InfraDead on 10/01/2008 16:23:22

Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: InfraDead on 10/01/2008 16:23:22
What do you think is the most interesting thing about space? I think it's the fact that everything we see in the sky is anything from minutes to millions of years old. That's just amazing.
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: lyner on 10/01/2008 17:23:28
The very best space TV I have ever seen was the sequence (live) of the guy mending the HST, when they found it had been sent up there in a broken state. It was so immediate and the result of the mend was, of course, stunning.
It was even better than the live TV from the Moon landings. (But, of course, they were all faked - oh yeah!)
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: that mad man on 10/01/2008 17:39:45
Its size!
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: neilep on 10/01/2008 19:16:40
Its size!

Agreed !!

It's like......well big !


Bigger than the biggest thing ever !!..because that's what it is !

I suppose, in this case Size IS Everything !!
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: lightarrow on 11/01/2008 12:11:58
What do you think is the most interesting thing about space? I think it's the fact that everything we see in the sky is anything from minutes to millions of years old. That's just amazing.
The fact it's dark.
(See Olbers' paradox
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olbers'_paradox).
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: that mad man on 11/01/2008 14:30:37
Thanks lightarrow, never seen that before.

I always assumed it was like looking through a telescope, the greater the magnification (the closer/deeper you look) the more light you need. Similar thing with a microscope.

Light acts according to the inverse square law and gets less luminous with distance but, I cant see any of that in the above link?

Edit, sorry, yes it talks of shells. Will have to read it in more depth!

Bee
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: syhprum on 11/01/2008 19:57:55
It is of course only dark at optical frequencies, at the frequency of the CMBR it is very nearly uniformly bright.
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: lightarrow on 11/01/2008 20:47:56
It is of course only dark at optical frequencies, at the frequency of the CMBR it is very nearly uniformly bright.
Yes, it's a lucky we human being cannot see those frequencies: looking at the sky would be much less romantic.  [:)]
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: InfraDead on 12/01/2008 15:23:14
It is of course only dark at optical frequencies, at the frequency of the CMBR it is very nearly uniformly bright.
Yes, it's a lucky we human being cannot see those frequencies: looking at the sky would be much less romantic.  [:)]

What do you think it would be like?
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: rosalind dna on 12/01/2008 16:09:02
Yes
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: Karen W. on 12/01/2008 16:28:11
I think Its beauty, The way like has been mentioned its massiveness and endlessness is awing! I love the way I can look up and feel like  I am the only person on earth.. and there is an overwhelming beauty especially in the night sky that makes me feel incredibly good and alive. All the twinkling stars and the peacefulness on a clear night that fills me with calm and wonder. It is amazing and I find it impossible to comprehend or completely understand... It is amazing!
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: neilep on 12/01/2008 17:23:59
I think it's not just amazing at the sheer scale....but the fact that what we can see it not all that there is. I am referring to the quantum level of things here where empty space is not actually empty but is a fervent pitch of activity of quarks, super strings, branes and other higher dimensional objects.....and who knows what else ?

It's awesome in that we can only perceive a mere fraction of what there really is.
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: Karen W. on 12/01/2008 17:38:06
Yes it is and precisely how I feel about not being able to comprehend it all.. it is incredible.
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: JimBob on 13/01/2008 04:00:45
It is the amazement, the awe, the humility that one senses while viewing the sky at night far away from light pollution. The sheer beauty is overwhelming.
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: Karen W. on 13/01/2008 04:33:31
yes it is!
Title: Favourite/Most Interesting thing about Space?
Post by: lightarrow on 13/01/2008 13:16:29
It is of course only dark at optical frequencies, at the frequency of the CMBR it is very nearly uniformly bright.
Yes, it's a lucky we human being cannot see those frequencies: looking at the sky would be much less romantic.  [:)]

What do you think it would be like?
All the sky uniformly bright.

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