Just below here is a picture from the HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE of a Galaxy so distant "Star Wars" didn't even come close to it.
It may be difficult for you to tell much from this small jpeg, but look below and to your right of the center of the photo.
There's a streak of red there. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) identifies this as a GALAXY Maybe 13 billion light-years away from us.
If you've never tried to understand a distance like that you'll have to picture traveling at the speed of light (300,000 KM, about 186,000 Miles per second) for 13 gigayears to get there.
That would make you a bit older.
Of course when you got there that galaxy might be long gone.
Unless you meet it as it's coming back.
(If that theory is true)
The reason such a picture is possible is due to a phenomena predicted by Dr. Einstein in his theory of general relativity (not the E=MC2 thing.) The STScI experts tell us this picture is possible because of a cluster of matter so massive the space around it is "warped" into a gravitational lens. This foreground cluster is so close, a mere 5 billion light years away, that its not unlike a magnifying glass between us and our distant relative.
This is a fortunate alignment.
For the full story written by people who really know about these things, check with STScI (linked below) for 97-25 for info on the above, sent our way from the Hubble Space Telescope.
Another of the many pictures returned by the HST shows "Stellar Fireworks" a result of galaxy collisons.
It seems that nearly one third of galaxys distance from us may be "interacting galaxys." This means there have been "collisions" between the these giant Island Universes some time in the past.
That's the past according to our time.
This picture shows a "cloud" of cold hydrogen gas, called a giant molecular cloud (outlined in green).
It seems that during the "collision" they are squeezed and heated and then collapse under their own gravity.
These reservoirs of gas light up in a burst of star formation.
Check in to the STScI site and look for 97-34 and get a full description of this event.
Don't be alarmed, but it may be that we brush by or even collide with our "Kissin' Cousin", Andromeda in a couple of billion years (our time table).
If you haven't been there before, go visit "THE HUBBLE."
For breathtaking, beautiful Astro-Photography. Meet "JASON WARE"
The first of his pictures you'll see, when visiting his site, is my old friend the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). There are two smaller galaxies near the "biggie". Our own "Milky Way Galaxy" is a part of this close knit family.
We're only about 2.9 million light years apart
In space distance that's like a bit more than 4000 miles here on Earth.
Please E-mail Jason to show your appreciation for letting us link to him.
ABOUT
"FLYING SAUCERS"
ARE THEY "REAL"?
I don't know.
There are a whole lot of folks who will say "YES".
There are just as many who will holler, "NO WAY".
As for myself, well, my minds open on the subject. As a long time airplane pilot there have been some things seen that I can't explain.
Of course that's not proof either way.
There are many reports from reputable citizens that point to strange things going on "up there".
I'd like to see some of them so an evaluation can be made to suit me.
In the meantime I'll just read and wonder, but not get overwhelmed.
Not yet anyway.
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