What is Digg?292 Comments
- revenge7, on 10/11/2007, -8/+190No wonder the Total Perspective Vortex makes you go crazy.
- supernovasky, on 10/11/2007, -3/+172Alright, final verdict: It's fake. It's an artistic rendition of something that IS real, though.
Here is the site:
http://www.nasa.gov/lb/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2004/0107filament.html
Here is the caption that is SUPPOSED to go with this image (thanks, original digger):
This is a computer artist's illustration of a giant but remote galaxy string discovered recently. The fuzzy, bright areas in the cube at the beginning of the movie, and in Images 1 and 2, represent galaxies discovered about 10.8 billion light-years away in the direction of the southern constellation Grus (the Crane). Astronomers believe these galaxies are members of a much larger structure at least 300 million light-years long and 50 million light-years wide. Since light took 10.8 billion years to traverse the distance between the galaxy structure and Earth, we see the structure as it appeared when the Universe was young, just a fifth of its current age. Although they don't yet know how many galaxies were forming in the structure 10.8 billion years ago, the astronomers believe it will eventually evolve into a giant galaxy string resembling the "Great Wall" of galaxies relatively nearby. When this happens, the newly-discovered galaxy string will contain many thousands of galaxies (Images 3 and 4). This new structure defies current models of how the Universe evolved, which can't explain how a structure this big could have formed so early. - kdehead, on 10/11/2007, -14/+156WTF!! is that real?
- aguitarhero, on 10/11/2007, -18/+141Beautiful, but not real! It is an artist rendering.
The best pictures we have of deep space looks like this
http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/media/galleries/science/astronomy/deep%20space.jpg, which is still amazing - j10s, on 10/11/2007, -20/+101I nearly buried it as inaccurate until I realized it is from nasa!
- doctorfungi, on 10/11/2007, -8/+84Absolutely amazing. So much out there, so much we don't know.
- JCSaint, on 10/11/2007, -7/+76Some comedian once said that if there were aliens out there, they probably think of us as the Alabama of the universe and that's why they haven't contacted us.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -6/+74Clearly we are alone in the universe
- TwoKill, on 10/11/2007, -5/+59Anyone else suddenly feel really small and insignificant
- JCSaint, on 10/11/2007, -3/+55Okay, I claim the second galaxy on the left. It's mine!
- JCSaint, on 10/11/2007, -5/+51Question: So these are all the galaxies from this view, right? I mean, is it a panoramic 360 degree view or are there just as many on the other side of the lens? Damn, that's a lot of space.
- Iarwain, on 10/11/2007, -1/+46Courtesy of Google Universe (Beta) :D
- supernovasky, on 10/11/2007, -6/+50It is the Hubble ultra-deep field. Its an extremely enhanced version of the original, though. (I think. Cant quite place it)
Here's another one taken a long time ago of the same region:
http://www.astrobio.nau.edu/~koerner/ast180/lectures/pic/cdrom/art_high-res/es04/figure-iv-00.jpg
If you look closely, especially if you view it at max res, you'll see flat-edged galaxies that seem to form circles with other flat-edged galaxies. What you're actually seeing is the same galaxy, expressed twice, because the gravity is so strong, it creates a lens that bends light. This would not be possible without the existence of dark matter. - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -4/+46remember guys, all these nasa photos are digitally colorized... and this is probably hundreds of separate shots stitched together.
its sort of like the pictures on cereal boxes. sure, the picture is of actual fruit loops, but the milk is elmer's glue.
either way this is sweet. - anidal, on 10/11/2007, -6/+40What if extra-terrestrial life IS god? :P
- SpaceMonkeyZero, on 10/11/2007, -3/+31"This is a picture is really a monument to all that humankind hasn't learned yet."
- enicholas, on 10/11/2007, -6/+30@Battleloser: Of course I acknowledge the possibility that God exists. I also acknowledge the possibility that the reality I perceive is just a computer simulation, or a hallucination, or a dream. Leprechauns might be real, and lightning's true cause might really be Zeus hurling thunderbolts from the top of Mount Olympus.
I'm not being facetious. I really do acknowledge that all of those things are possible. I simply believe that they are all highly unlikely and that there is no reliable evidence to support them. And, in the absence of reliable evidence, there is no sense in believing in them. - SpaceMonkeyZero, on 10/11/2007, -7/+30maybe god is an alien playing pranks on us.
- TheBritishGuy1, on 10/11/2007, -5/+27.......woah.........
- arbulus, on 10/11/2007, -3/+24But by saying that, doesn't it negate your comment?
- remiserg, on 10/11/2007, -0/+21Check out the Hubble Ultra Deep Field
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2004/07/ - thundacracka, on 10/11/2007, -2/+20Otherwise known as Galactus's menu.
- revenge7, on 10/11/2007, -1/+18There are around 10K galaxies in the HUDF. The HUDF is only 1/12700000 of the sky. That means, if the HUDF part of the sky is an average representation of the rest of the sky, there are around 127,000,000,000 (127 billion) galaxies visible from the Earth.
In our galaxy, it is estimated that there are around 100 billion stars. If we pretend our galaxy is average, that would mean that there are a total of around 1.27x10^20 stars JUST in galaxies we can see.
No other intelligent life? Ha! - codmate, on 10/11/2007, -4/+20@spxiii
"People here are incredibly one sided. It's acceptable that this artist's rendition of the Universe is cause for the belief in extraterrestrial beings, but the paradox of existence itself is not a good enough reason to believe in God. It's absurd bigotry if I imply that God created all of this, but perfectly normal to suggest that we the champions of planet Earth are accomplished enough to speak knowingly about the creation of the Universe."
All you need is logic.
If there are many planets then the chances for other intelligent life existing in the universe are greater than if there were a small number of planets, as the potential surface area for intelligent life has increased.
The 'paradox of existance' does not count as evidence, so this argument is "a priori".
This makes it fundamentaly weaker than than an argument for extra-terrestrial intelligence, based on a photograph of the universe (a reasonable piece of evidence).
"You want evidence of God? What do you call something that transcends space and time? If nothing transcends space and time, how does space or time exist? If space and time have always existed, then you believe in the deity of space and time. The Big Bang is hardly an argument for anything but a beginning, and if you have a beginning, someone had to have started it, or you're just as hopeless in science as I am in my faith."
Argument from first cause fails, as you need a cause for the cause.
As soon as you make the rule "everything must have a cause", then you cannot have a 'first cause'.
Implying a 'first cause' breaks your first rule of 'everything must have a cause'.
It's circular logic and doesn't work!
Your other argument that 'something needs something outside of itself in order to exist' is similarly circular. For example, must your god must need something bigger and more powerful outside 'him' in order to exist? If not, then you break the rule you have set up that 'proves' your case. If so, then why call 'him' god?
As for the big bang theory.
Well, it doesn't contradict the concept of a god - but scientific advances and increased knowledge does make the idea of a god - especially a personal one - seem increasingly worthy of ridicule due to their utter implausibility.
What gives you the idea that; if there is some kind of fundamental force behind everything it is sentient, male, interventionist, communicates directly with people, worthy of worship (i.e. good), omnipotent, omnicient, omnipresent and all the rest of it. What makes you think that the Bible is some sort of magic shortcut to secret knowledge about the universe?
It just looks like a book to me. - SteelAuger, on 10/11/2007, -1/+16Yeah, this is a artist's rendition, as discussed in the M81 article yesterday. There are a few things that tip it off, if you know what to look for.
1. The big pair of colliding galaxies in the foreground are NGC 4038/4039 ("The Antennae"). They really don't have a background that spectacular:
http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n4038twardy.jpg
2. Several of the galaxies seem to be just copied, rotated, and pasted. That yellowish barred spiral (probably NGC 1365) on the right side shows up several times.
3. Almost all of the galaxies shown are spirals. Realistically, there would be a lot more ellipticals and irregulars in there. - Bupsy, on 10/11/2007, -12/+27we are about the size of a spec of dust compared to the rest of what we know of the universe, why do all these religious nuts thinks the entire universe revolves around us.
- ledzfilter, on 10/11/2007, -3/+18My god ... it's full of stars!
- jasz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+15i feel so insignificant :(
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -2/+15I wonder how many civilizations in those galaxies have identical pictures in which our galaxy is just one of many. Blows. My. Mind.
- ICSU, on 10/11/2007, -2/+15@cybermort
exactly
Some super being created all this and then focused on when people should have sex and with whom. - jessestorm, on 10/11/2007, -2/+15I think every single person on Earth should see this. It's truly humbling.
- enicholas, on 10/11/2007, -23/+35@Battleloser: The same way I can look at a beautiful forest and not believe that it contains unicorns. "The universe is a big and beautiful place" does not in any way, shape, or form imply "and there is an invisible, incorporeal, omniscient, omnipotent, supernatural being which created it all, but which itself has no creator".
The simple fact that a whole lot of people believe in fairy tales doesn't mean that they're right. It just means that there are a lot of deluded people out there. - Klarth, on 10/11/2007, -5/+16Can't wait for Google Asteroid View.
We'll have top stories like CRATER shaped like a PENIS!! Hilarious AMAZING - onionizer, on 10/11/2007, -21/+31... and that's why I think is more reasonable to believe in extraterrestrial life rather then god.
- arbulus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10It's not the Hubble Deep Field image, but it resembles it.
I would also like to know where this came from and how it was taken. - glxyjones, on 10/11/2007, -4/+14I read somewhere that if the universe (just the observable universe, which is different and possibly significantly smaller than the actual Universe) was the size of Earth. Our galaxy would a sandbox about 5ft by 5ft somewhere, and our Sun would be a spec of sand in that sandbox.
I doubt the legitimacy of such a statement, but I don't doubt the significance. - Smuikas, on 10/11/2007, -3/+12That's what's called Red Shift and Blue Shift. Has to do with whether or not the galaxy is moving away from us or towards us - the faster, the deeper the hue.
It's like the Doppler effect with light. - icecycles, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9Here is the original article
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2004/0107filament.html - NerveBand, on 10/11/2007, -13/+22Thats extremely beautiful. You guys should size it to appreaciate its true beauty.
- comradeTJH, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/mpg/97876main_GalClustV2_big.mpg
- shableep, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10"Just think, all that was once as small as this period."
who says it's not right now?
crap, we just don't really know anything... in comparison to the universe. even physical size and distance is starting to be questioned... - AaronTyler, on 10/11/2007, -7/+16This is nothing more than my stoner buddies bedroom ceiling.... If you think this looks cool, wait until he turns on the black light.
- cybermort, on 10/11/2007, -5/+13and clearly the universe wasn't created for us. These pictures always make me feel so humble.
- popltree2, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8@jcsaint
I believe it covers the same amount of sky as if you were to hold a postage stamp up at arms length. - codmate, on 10/11/2007, -5/+13"At the very least it means there are forces at work which we do not understand, will you atleast acknowledge the possibility of such a force being sentient?"
If such 'forces' existed we would have no hope of understanding them whatsoever.
Applying human definitions such as 'sentient' to a force that may or may not exist and that we could not possibly comprehend is frankly laughable. - TrueBlueJP90, on 10/11/2007, -9/+17I, personally, credit the Big Bang. You know, the theory that has been almost universally accepted amongst scientists for generations.
- arbulus, on 10/11/2007, -10/+18The way I see it, this is a picture that has absolutely nothing to do with God.
The "The universe is so magnificent that some higher being MUST have created it" line is a ***** lazy cop-out. We are not a society of cavemen who have to attribute natural phenomena to spiritual and supersticious sources because we don't have the means or understanding to know what's REALLY going on. Sure, there are plenty of things in the natural world that scientists don't understand, but that doesn't mean we just cop-out and give up trying to understand things.
"Ooh, we don't know why this particular isolated island in the middle of an ocean has a colony of strangely formed elephants. We can't figure out how they got here or how they survive. But God must have known what he was doing. So we'll just leave it at that."
That's a ***** line and it's a disgrace to the human race. - Murdats, on 10/11/2007, -5/+13"How can you look at such an imagine, comprehend exactly how big it all is, and still not believe in a higher being?"
in the same way I can look at a large box of salt spilt all over the floor, and not believe it to be some purposeful arrangement of grains.
if there are infinite permutation's for the universe (laws, locations, size, etc) then 1 of those permutations would have to be the one used.
just like the salt has to fall some way, that specific arrangement has no special meaning, its just the way it turned out.
your argument is devoid of serious thought, you have obviously stopped thinking when you found something comfortable to believe - codmate, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7@Elephant789
Andromeda is blue-shifted.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andromeda_galaxy
"...the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way are approaching one another at a speed of 100 to 140 kilometres per second"
It is galactic clusters that are being forced apart by inflation - not individual galaxies. - retral, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8Right... your girlfriend.
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