Truffles Posted November 14, 2007 #1 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Hi, This is my first post. I was wondering if there is a map for dumb~dumbs like myself to see an approximate outline of the universe. I do understand that you cant really draw it flat on a peice of paper as there apparently is no edge to the universe. I couldn't find one even if it shows it cube like or in a circle. I hope I'm explaining myself. I would like to know approximately for example, if the Sun is here, and our neighbour planets here in Point A, that this galaxy B etc are 41 light years in this direction, and from there, this plant/star is there, etc. I am completely fascinated by this and would like to see it visually. I have seen a few sections of the universe on google images, and other maps but they're too small to see. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legatus Legionis Posted November 14, 2007 #2 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Hi ! Welcome! just here to greet you.. We should wait for Waspie_dwarf for information about the topic.. but as far as I know. there's no map for the Universe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafizbms Posted November 14, 2007 #3 Share Posted November 14, 2007 The universe's shaped is currently undefined. It is even said to be infinite. So, i doubt there will be a photo or a map of the universe anytime soon. Unless some aliens drop by and pass us one. Have to ask contacts for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truffles Posted November 14, 2007 Author #4 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Hi ! Welcome! just here to greet you.. We should wait for Waspie_dwarf for information about the topic.. but as far as I know. there's no map for the Universe. Wow that was quick Im surprised I couldn't find anything. I think it would be really nice to have something like this even if its not perfectly aligned. I think it would give people a better perspective. Sorry whats Waspie_dwarf? ~Im REALLY new at this. But, I read this site everyday. I have its icon on my igoogle page I love this site! Truffles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stixxman Posted November 14, 2007 #5 Share Posted November 14, 2007 waspy is the wizard of OZ of space info. If it comes from waspy you can take it to the bank. Just look up topics in the space and science forum and he will have started 90% of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafizbms Posted November 14, 2007 #6 Share Posted November 14, 2007 waspie_dwarf is a member here. not an item or anything... haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legatus Legionis Posted November 14, 2007 #7 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Wow that was quick Im surprised I couldn't find anything. I think it would be really nice to have something like this even if its not perfectly aligned. I think it would give people a better perspective. Sorry whats Waspie_dwarf? ~Im REALLY new at this. But, I read this site everyday. I have its icon on my igoogle page I love this site! Truffles Great that you like/loved this site. and like they said. Waspie_Dwarf could be usually found at these following links. Space and Astronomy and Space News and like they said. He's like the God of Space Info in here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truffles Posted November 14, 2007 Author #8 Share Posted November 14, 2007 waspie_dwarf is a member here. not an item or anything... haha. lol. Ok good! I will wait patiently... to see if the man behind the curtain replies Truffles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonardo Posted November 14, 2007 #9 Share Posted November 14, 2007 (edited) Hi, Truffles. Welcome to UM. I don't know about a Universe map...because it has no 'edges' we can't see 'where' we are except in relation to other galaxies. I don't know if such a map exists, but below is a link to a good site with interactive maps of our galaxy and you can see where we are in some of the maps on the site. Milky Way Edited November 14, 2007 by Leonardo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PriestinMO Posted November 15, 2007 #10 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Hi Truffles... Here is a link to an Atlas of the Universe. http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/ Please keep in mind the distances you are dealing with. The Moon is a mere 3 light seconds away, the Sun is about 8 light minutes, and the known universe is a staggering 15 billion light years across. So, you are looking at 473,040,000,000,000,000 light seconds or 87,985,440,000,000,000,000,000 miles across. The sheer size is mind boogling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primeval Posted November 15, 2007 #11 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Just shut your eyes and imagine infinity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiCi Posted November 15, 2007 #12 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Here is one that shows everything. 1490x2420 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starscream Posted November 15, 2007 #13 Share Posted November 15, 2007 this show our 11 different size planets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilly Posted November 15, 2007 #14 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Hi Truffles... Here is a link to an Atlas of the Universe. http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/ Yes, that's the site I really like. It gives you the ability to expand outward, really clarifies the mind boggling distances involved. Please keep in mind the distances you are dealing with. The Moon is a mere 3 light seconds away, the Sun is about 8 light minutes, and the known universe is a staggering 15 billion light years across. So, you are looking at 473,040,000,000,000,000 light seconds or 87,985,440,000,000,000,000,000 miles across. The sheer size is mind boogling! Shocking isn't it? I mean, there's huge and then there's the Universe (beyond huge). Also, I have to agree with the concensus on Waspie...definitely the UM Guru of all things space related! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truffles Posted November 15, 2007 Author #15 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Yes, that's the site I really like. It gives you the ability to expand outward, really clarifies the mind boggling distances involved. Shocking isn't it? I mean, there's huge and then there's the Universe (beyond huge). Also, I have to agree with the concensus on Waspie...definitely the UM Guru of all things space related! Thank you so much for all of the replies! As a newbie, I typed in light year as I really had no idea how long -sorry for the improper terms- it was. OMG!!!! And to think there are things 14 billion light years from the Sun!!?? I can't even wrap my head around 1 light year. I'm still trying to process it. I loved all of the photos and links that were added to the posts. Im going over them. Very interesting! I wish I could put everything together. What a crazy concept the Universe is. Truffles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truffles Posted November 15, 2007 Author #16 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Thank you so much for all of the replies! As a newbie, I typed in light year as I really had no idea how long -sorry for the improper terms- it was. OMG!!!! And to think there are things 14 billion light years from the Sun!!?? I can't even wrap my head around 1 light year. I'm still trying to process it. I loved all of the photos and links that were added to the posts. Im going over them. Very interesting! I wish I could put everything together. What a crazy concept the Universe is. Truffles BTW I read a lot of your Posts Leonardo. I love your knowledge and replies. I wish I had some kind of science background to understand half of it lol. Truffles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkSteven Posted November 15, 2007 #17 Share Posted November 15, 2007 don't forget that the universe is just as infinitely small as it is big, calculate that lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmb Posted November 16, 2007 #18 Share Posted November 16, 2007 (edited) What a crazy concept the Universe is. Quote of the day right there so true... Edited November 16, 2007 by danemburke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truffles Posted November 16, 2007 Author #19 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Quote of the day right there so true... I have another question : (Surprise ) Ok, I heard that the Universe is not just empty and that there are warps and bends and stuff. So, (example) how do people know that its 1 light year from here to there? Can they see the warps and is that included in the calculation? Or does light year/speed not get affected by the warps? If the answer involves calculations in depth analysis, a yes or no, sort of or maybe answer, is good enough for me except for the first question. Have a good weekend everyone ! Truffles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starscream Posted November 16, 2007 #20 Share Posted November 16, 2007 i always thought of that too there are many different kinds of light so how can they call it a light year and be exact i guess it is like carbon dateing just a far off guest O met Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truffles Posted November 16, 2007 Author #21 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Hi Truffles... Here is a link to an Atlas of the Universe. http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/ Please keep in mind the distances you are dealing with. The Moon is a mere 3 light seconds away, the Sun is about 8 light minutes, and the known universe is a staggering 15 billion light years across. So, you are looking at 473,040,000,000,000,000 light seconds or 87,985,440,000,000,000,000,000 miles across. The sheer size is mind boogling! I wonder how many Mc Donalds are located on the way lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiCi Posted November 16, 2007 #22 Share Posted November 16, 2007 If you want more than a map and would like to actually travel around the solar system and beyond, then download a free program called celestia. It's a cool space simulator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PriestinMO Posted November 18, 2007 #23 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Hi Truffles... I will attempt to answer your questions. First, red_rum is correct. There are several 'flavors' of light. Light is not only the stuff we see coming from stars and light bulbs but also includes x-rays, gamma rays, radio waves, micro wave and much more. Light is actually any electromagnetic radiation including the visable light our eyes see. Besides being able to be emitted light can be absorbed and reflected. Life on our planet is dependent on this. Plants absorb light and use that captured energy to make food to fuel their growth. Our atmosphere absorbs and reflects much of the harmful wavelengths of the Sun's light and permits life to flourish on the surface of the planet. Wavelength of light is important. A mirror works well for reflecting the visable spectrum of light but is all but useless for reflecting or absorbing x-rays or gamma rays. A chunk of lead reflects very little visable light but works well for absorbing and to a limited degree reflecting X-rays and gamma rays. In a vacuum light's speed is constant. The speed of light, through very precise experiments, has been very accurately calculated to be 299,792,485 meters per second or 186,282,397 miles per second. Many experiments have be used in attempts to speed up or slow down light in a vacuum but so far none have been successful. BUT, a beam of light can be bent significantly by a large gravitational force. It seems gravity can effect light or photons of light but only at right angles to the direction of travel. And this dear Truffles is where your question comes in. Any mass has gravity associated with it, and gravity warps the space around it. From the smallest particle to the largest mass in the universe, this is true. So, consider a large mass somewhere out in space and the amount of gravity associated with it. A super massive source of gravity will bend light significantly or, as in the case of a black hole (the most massive single things in space), even trap light so it cannot escape. Now to answer your question. Sure, there are all kinds of things out there in space that bends and warps light. Yet with careful examination and calculations scientists are able to calculate to a resonable degree the distance to objects such as stars in our own galaxy. These calculations are based on known characteristics of certain types of stars and the light they emit as well as something called red shift. This complex method permits scientists to arrive at reasonably accurate distances to far flung galaxies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truffles Posted November 19, 2007 Author #24 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Priestin, great explanation! ~I will have to re-read it a few times before I can wrap my head around that one It is all so fascinating!! Truffles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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