Happy Atheist Forum

General => Science => Topic started by: Tank on September 27, 2011, 06:38:18 PM

Title: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: Tank on September 27, 2011, 06:38:18 PM
Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe (http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-09-astronomers-universe.html)

Quote(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers at Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institute have found a new way to measure distances. This may not sound like much, but working out how far away something is, is one of the toughest fundamental problems in astrophysics and is central to cosmology as it allows scientists to work out the age of the Universe and what it's fundamental properties are. Because their new method uses quasars, some of the brightest objects known, scientists say they will be able to determine distances much further than achieved to date, paving the way to a better understanding of dark energy...

Another weapon in the armory of science  ;D
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: Asmodean on September 27, 2011, 09:22:08 PM
I wonder how the universe would look from far away..?  ???
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: Tank on September 27, 2011, 09:32:47 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on September 27, 2011, 09:22:08 PM
I wonder how the universe would look from far away..?  ???
Go look outside, none of it is really very near is it?
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: Asmodean on September 27, 2011, 10:46:37 PM
Quote from: Tank on September 27, 2011, 09:32:47 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on September 27, 2011, 09:22:08 PM
I wonder how the universe would look from far away..?  ???
Go look outside, none of it is really very near is it?
Not from within. From the outside.
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: Tank on September 27, 2011, 10:49:48 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on September 27, 2011, 10:46:37 PM
Quote from: Tank on September 27, 2011, 09:32:47 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on September 27, 2011, 09:22:08 PM
I wonder how the universe would look from far away..?  ???
Go look outside, none of it is really very near is it?
Not from within. From the outside.
But... but... but... only God can do that!!!!
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: Asmodean on September 27, 2011, 11:06:17 PM
Quote from: Tank on September 27, 2011, 10:49:48 PM
But... but... but... only God can do that!!!!
When I say universe, I am not counting in the nothing (Or whatever else might be there) beyond the furthest particles of matter created in the Big Bang.
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: Stevil on September 28, 2011, 01:31:16 AM
Quote from: Asmodean on September 27, 2011, 11:06:17 PM
Quote from: Tank on September 27, 2011, 10:49:48 PM
But... but... but... only God can do that!!!!
When I say universe, I am not counting in the nothing (Or whatever else might be there) beyond the furthest particles of matter created in the Big Bang.

Probably a great distance and then another Big Bang effect constituting another Universe in space, or maybe some stray matter, a blackhole or something that hasn't even been part of a big bang yet.
Otherwise maybe the edge of space, you just fall off the edge into oblivion, this is what flat spacers believe. Or is it a group of monsters at the edge of space waiting to gobble you up? I can't quite remember.
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: Asmodean on September 28, 2011, 06:56:54 AM
No-one seems to have read the question properly...  :-\

What I was asking in long words:

Imagine yourself in a spaceship at the distance of at least the diameter of this universe away from its "edge", looking at it. What do you thnk you'd see?
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: fyv0h on September 28, 2011, 04:39:09 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on September 28, 2011, 06:56:54 AM
No-one seems to have read the question properly...  :-\

What I was asking in long words:

Imagine yourself in a spaceship at the distance of at least the diameter of this universe away from its "edge", looking at it. What do you thnk you'd see?

Something resembling a heavy mixture of LSD and Pink Floyd.
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: OldGit on September 28, 2011, 05:30:56 PM
Is it meaningful to propose that anything can be outside this universe?

But if it is indeed possible, you would definitely see a McDonalds.
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: Tank on September 28, 2011, 05:52:47 PM
Quote from: OldGit on September 28, 2011, 05:30:56 PM
Is it meaningful to propose that anything can be outside this universe?

But if it is indeed possible, you would definitely see a McDonalds.
And Starbucks.
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: The Magic Pudding on September 28, 2011, 06:34:45 PM
Quote from: Tank on September 28, 2011, 05:52:47 PM
And Starbucks.

I thought Starbucks were rationalising, getting ready for the big sucky thing.
Did Nostrodamus predict the decline  of the Crispy Cream?

Oh this is an Astronomers thread, why did these guys try this cheap trick adopting such a similar name to the Astrologers, it's all so Palsonic.
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: Siz on September 28, 2011, 08:48:27 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on September 28, 2011, 06:56:54 AM
No-one seems to have read the question properly...  :-\

What I was asking in long words:

Imagine yourself in a spaceship at the distance of at least the diameter of this universe away from its "edge", looking at it. What do you thnk you'd see?

We can only see up to the event horizon, the light from beyond which hasn't reached us yet. So I can't imagine you'd be able to see much different from without than from within.
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: Sweetdeath on September 28, 2011, 09:52:22 PM

Quote from: Tank on September 28, 2011, 05:52:47 PM
Quote from: OldGit on September 28, 2011, 05:30:56 PM
Is it meaningful to propose that anything can be outside this universe?

But if it is indeed possible, you would definitely see a McDonalds.
And Starbucks.
I'm already proclaiming both of those exist in a black hole. XD
Title: Re: Astronomers discover new way to measure Universe
Post by: fyv0h on September 29, 2011, 02:25:43 AM
Quote from: Tank on September 28, 2011, 05:52:47 PM
Quote from: OldGit on September 28, 2011, 05:30:56 PM
Is it meaningful to propose that anything can be outside this universe?

But if it is indeed possible, you would definitely see a McDonalds.
And Starbucks.
And Wal-Mart