Feeling Very Small

[glenc]

I am feeling very small, take a look at today's APOD.
How many galaxies are there in this image???
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0707/A2151LRGB_hallasF.jpg
The Hercules Cluster of Galaxies
Credit & Copyright: Tony Hallas (http://astrophoto.com/contact.htm) Explanation: These are galaxies of the Hercules Cluster (http://www.astr.ua.edu/gifimages/hercules.html), an archipelago of island universes (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap051222.html) a mere 500 million light-years away (http://www.faqs.org/faqs/astronomy/faq/part8/section-14.html). Also known as Abell 2151, this cluster (http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/superc/her.html) is loaded with gas and dust rich, star-forming spiral (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070529.html) galaxies but has relatively few elliptical (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060520.html) galaxies, which lack gas and dust and the associated newborn stars. The colors in this remarkably deep composite (http://www.astrophoto.com/A2151LRGB.htm) image clearly show the star forming galaxies with a blue tint and galaxies with older stellar populations with a yellowish cast. The sharp picture spans about 1/2 degree across the cluster center, corresponding to over 4 million light-years at the cluster's estimated distance. In the cosmic vista many galaxies seem to be colliding (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040612.html) or merging (http://www.astr.ua.edu/pairs2.html) while others seem distorted (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030607.html) - clear evidence that cluster galaxies (http://www.seds.org/messier/gal_clus.html) commonly interact. In fact, the Hercules Cluster itself may be seen as the result of ongoing mergers of smaller galaxy clusters and is thought to be similar to young (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040226.html) galaxy clusters in the much more distant, early Universe (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060323.html).

[casstony]

I was reading an article in the New York Times today about humanity's chances of survival and our need to move to other planets. I look at all those galaxies and wonder how many other civilisations are struggling to establish themselves outside of their homeworld. I wonder if any will ever succeed?

[jjjnettie]

:eyepop:
We're just a speck on a speck on a speck.

[Ric]

What an amazing image, It really puts it into perspective as to our place in the Universe.

Cheers

[GrahamL]

I'm sure my mother in law did this a while back tony :)

Those shots are pretty humbling glen , such a small piece of sky ..and beyond the cluster pictured how many more are obscured behind each one we can see ?

[ballaratdragons]

:eyepop: :eyepop: :eyepop:

Good Grief!! I love it! What a beautifully rich cluster :)

[glenc]

Good one Graham. RU missing her?

[hookedonsaturn]

beautifull pictures but they sure make you realize how insignifigant one person is in the universe

[Outbackmanyep]

Whats the one on the bottom right?
Is that jets coming out of that galaxy or is it a background/foreground object?? Thats awesome!!! :eyepop:

[glenc]

Look at all the galaxies BEHIND this mag 13.3 galaxy!
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0802/ngc1132_hcst_big.jpg
If you want to see it look 2.9 degrees from M77 in pa 116.

Elliptical Galaxy NGC 1132
Credit: NASA (http://www.nasa.gov/), ESA (http://www.spacetelescope.org/), M. West (ESO, Chile (http://www.sc.eso.org/santiago/)), and CXC (http://chandra.harvard.edu/) / Penn. State (http://www.astro.psu.edu/main/) / G. Garmire (http://www.astro.psu.edu/users/garmire/), et al. Explanation: NGC 1132 is one smooth galaxy ... NGC 1132 is over 300 million light years away, so the light we see from it today left before dinosaurs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaurs) roamed the Earth. Many fascinating background galaxies (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040309.html) can be seen far in the distance.

[Ric]

Another amazing image, thanks for the link Glen.

All that to explore and we haven't even got a Human past the Moon.

We really need to get out there

Cheers

[erick]

Man, that is some understatement! It's mind-boggling! :eyepop:

[DJDD]

this reminds me of the Total Perspective Vortex from hitchhikers guide... :scared:

[MrB]

Now this is an awesome looking galaxy cropped from the above link, shame it's not closer!

[middy]

[Correction]:

We're just an insignificant speck on an insignificant speck on a insignificant speck.

[Kal]

An inverse view is that until we can verify that there is intelligent life out there we are possibly the most important speck of all! :D

[Night Owl]

The real impressive part is that is only a fraction of the sky, and no doubt it looks like that in every direction you can look.

The other impressive thing is that the exposure was probably 'only' for 11 days, or some such. I would love to see what there would be after say an exposure of a month.

And forget about even humans ever going out that far, even in say 50,000 years in the future. As has been pointed out, none of it would probably still be there when you got half way there. Its a snapshot of what was, long before warm blooded animals ever existed.

And the other thing that disturbs me is the human habit of exponetial population growth.

Even with such fine photographic evidence of unlimited resources, in an apparently infinite universe, what will happen if the human population continues to expands exponentially, as it has done since the end of WW2? In 1600 years time the body mass of humans walking around will equal the mass of the entire planet we all inhabit! And in 3200 years how much of known space will we humans inhabit? If there are any humans left that is.....:scared:

[danielsun]

WOW!! What an excellent shot!!
Even if there is a 1 in a billion chance of life on other planets, when you look at that shot alone I think there must be plenty of life out there!

[CoombellKid]

But perhaps in 50,000 years the equivalent of my 8" reflector might be able
to see that view.

regards,CS

[abellhunter]

88888888888888888888888888888888888 888888888888888888888888

Hey Astro Heads!:hi:

This cluster has many 14.5 mag. NGC members that can be seen with
your 12 inchers under dark skies. Looking at my log book from July 10th 2005 i viewed over 60 members from 9pm - 1am :P

Scope & EP: 28 incher with 16mm Nagler

The method i use, is to print out a photo-copy of the group & then the finder chart using Mega-Star to the correct "depth". Then start with the Brightest members, penciling in the "ovals" as i go along, i call it GALAXY HOPING!;)

Thanx for the post (((((((((((LOVE ABELL'S!)))))))))))))):D

Aloha, Lance aka "abellhunter"

http://www.anzaobservatory.com

...is Moving to the Southern Hemisphere any ideas, suggestions or
comments?

humphreys@greencafe.com

[gaa_ian]

A very nice image Glen .....

Hey Abellhunter
Are you moving to Australia ?
You look like you have pretty nice skies where you are !

[abellhunter]

88888888888888888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888

___________________________________ ______________________


G'day Astro-Head!:hi:

RE: Are you moving to OZ?

Yes, why would anyone want to only see 1/2 the Sky?:shrug:
i ((((((((((( L O V E ! ))))))))))) -15 thru' -25 the best!:D

SEE: "Astronomers Worst Nightmare!" see post #17:scared::scared::scared:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=28124
___________________________________ ______________________

RE: Why dose Abell say the South ((((((((((( R O C K S ! )))))))))))):shrug:

This is how i roll! http://www.anzaobservatory.com/gosouth.html
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As some of you know allready i am looking to build an observatory and move the ARSENAL down under!
See post #354:D

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=65
___________________________________ _______________________

Back in the states i was a member of the Orange County Astronomers, out of Southern California.....:whistle:

http://www.ocastronomers.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County_Astronomers
http://www.ocastronomers.org/astroimages/album.asp?cat=Misc+Club+Photos\Kuhn +Telescope
___________________________________ _______________________

By the way i lived near by the OCA's Anza dark site near Palomar Observatory for 17 years.:thumbsup:

http://www.anzaobservatory.com

Which i wrote about in my astro-bio....see post #2 & #3 regarding OCA etc...;)
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=27760
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Large Group Scope &/or The new OZ Observatory plan [see post #35]:eyepop:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=27969
___________________________________ _____________________

That's the ~ s k i n n y :D!
Aloha, Lance aka "abellhunter":hi:

77777777777777 P H O T O S 77777777777777777

Image #1. 47 Tuc (6" Refractor)
Image #2. Alajpacha Observatory on Lake Titicaca, Bolivia (12,500 feet Elev.)
Image #3. Space Cowboy after a 34 night run!
Image #4. LMC (180mm)
Image #5. Star Trails Lake Titicaca (3hrs by Simon Chung)
Image #6. All Sky Shot with Comet McNaught from OZ (by Tse)
Image #7. Aurora Australias & Comet McNaught from NZ (by Yoneto)
Image #8. Comet McNaught, composite shot from both the North & Southern Hemispheres (by Fuller & Deiries)

[xelasnave]

That is an interesting speckulation.:D

Great links Glen .. do you have anything bigger:P

Is it not wonderful that we live in the first age of man where we can look so far and wrestle with our insignificance .... after looking at "photos of the Universe" I always feel so privileged to live in our current age...

alex

[glenc]

Sorry Alex, nothing bigger.

[glenc]

Another image full of galaxies is at: http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/screen/heic0813a.jpg
See also: http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/html/heic0813.html

[glenc]

Our picture of where we're at in the cosmos is always getting refined as new information comes to light.
The latest part of the picture to be revised is our map of the Milky Way galaxy...
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/19599619.html
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitzer/news/spitzer-20080603-10am.html
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/236084main_MilkyWay-full-annotated.jpg

[glenc]

Some more about the Milky Way.
http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/18/just-in-time-for-summer-the-milky-way-loses-weight/#more-15139

[renormalised]

We're only as insignificant as we want to believe, or think we are. We may only be living on a tiny part of the greater whole, but we're far from being insignificant. No life is insignificant....sentience even less so. Be in awe of the fact that you're able to see and ask questions about what's there, not the fact of what there is. That the universe (any universe) exists is a given, that you do isn't.