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Old 08-11-2007, 12:01 AM
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Paddy (Patrick)
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Strangways, Vic
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Quote:
Originally Posted by janoskiss View Post
Here is a trippy thing: in the photons frame of reference there is no passage of time because light is travelling at the speed of light where time slows to a halt. As far as the photon is concerned its creation in the nuclear fusion inside the star, its long journey to you, and its annihilation in your retina all happened in the same instance. Its only in your frame of reference that many millions of years had passed.
It is indeed an extraordinary thing! I have just come in from some stargazing under a beautiful clear dark sky. As I was observing NGC 1097 I reflected on your comment that the photons that have traveled 40 million years to enter my eye and become part of my experience would themselves have done the trip in one instant. Quite a koan really.
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