Comments on: Astronomers 'Time Travel' to 16th Century Supernova http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/ Space and astronomy news Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:17:24 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: tacitus http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44906 tacitus Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:05:12 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44906 Very unlikely Nic. By the time any photons bounced off the Earth (from the Sun) were reflected off a nebula there would be so few of them that you would not be able to distinguish them from light from the Sun and other sources anyway. Remember, supernovae, at the moment of ignition, are just about the brightest objects in the universe, so they produce a untold numbers of photos ready to bounce off anything that gets in the way. Even then the echos are very faint. Light from planets or even ordinary stars won't cut it. Very unlikely Nic. By the time any photons bounced off the Earth (from the Sun) were reflected off a nebula there would be so few of them that you would not be able to distinguish them from light from the Sun and other sources anyway.

Remember, supernovae, at the moment of ignition, are just about the brightest objects in the universe, so they produce a untold numbers of photos ready to bounce off anything that gets in the way. Even then the echos are very faint. Light from planets or even ordinary stars won't cut it.

]]> By: Nic http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44799 Nic Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:52:55 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44799 Could there be some way to look at light reflected from Earth (and back) to look back in time at our own planet? I realize that only a small quantity of light would behave in this manner so the light would be very faint and the data sparse. But I think this proves that it's at least theoretically feasible. Could there be some way to look at light reflected from Earth (and back) to look back in time at our own planet?

I realize that only a small quantity of light would behave in this manner so the light would be very faint and the data sparse. But I think this proves that it's at least theoretically feasible.

]]> By: krasnopolsky http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44637 krasnopolsky Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:59:41 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44637 Beautiful! But we need more. KRASNOPOLSKY Beautiful!
But we need more.

KRASNOPOLSKY

]]> By: Nancy Atkinson http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44589 Nancy Atkinson Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:56:06 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44589 Procyan- All the images have captions and credits, but sometimes they don't show up correctly in our publishing software. So if you don't see a caption, put your mouse over the image and the caption will show up. Its frustrating for us writers when the captions don't show up, because we take the effort to put them all in! The top image is a combination of data from Spitzer, Chandra and a ground based telescope at Calar Alto. Nancy Procyan- All the images have captions and credits, but sometimes they don't show up correctly in our publishing software. So if you don't see a caption, put your mouse over the image and the caption will show up. Its frustrating for us writers when the captions don't show up, because we take the effort to put them all in!

The top image is a combination of data from Spitzer, Chandra and a ground based telescope at Calar Alto.
Nancy

]]> By: Procyan http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44586 Procyan Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:34:58 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44586 Something doesn't quite add up. This article implies, to me at least, that the top image is the reflected light from the 1572 event. I will wager that it is in fact an image of the remnant as it appears from Earth today. Isn't there a rule that all images should be credited and captioned and explained in the text? Has anyone else noticed the abuses that occur in pop sci magazines like new scientist. my pet peeve i guess. The achievement is stellar! Bravo! Something doesn't quite add up. This article implies, to me at least, that the top image is the reflected light from the 1572 event. I will wager that it is in fact an image of the remnant as it appears from Earth today.

Isn't there a rule that all images should be credited and captioned and explained in the text? Has anyone else noticed the abuses that occur in pop sci magazines like new scientist. my pet peeve i guess.

The achievement is stellar! Bravo!

]]> By: Dark Gnat http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44550 Dark Gnat Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:24:40 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44550 Another thing... When the white dwarf explodes, what happens to the companion star? Does it survive, and how is if affected by the blast? Another thing…

When the white dwarf explodes, what happens to the companion star? Does it survive, and how is if affected by the blast?

]]> By: Dark Gnat http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44549 Dark Gnat Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:23:24 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44549 I wonder if this can be done on a larger scale - looking at reflections from distant galaxies of the earier universe. I would imagine that there is a lot of noise and degradation, though. I wonder if this can be done on a larger scale – looking at reflections from distant galaxies of the earier universe.

I would imagine that there is a lot of noise and degradation, though.

]]> By: trux http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44533 trux Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:23:05 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44533 2 Bonr: since the distances to both the supernova and the dust clod are known, as well as the time of the supernova explosion, it is mathematically not that difficult to pick up the right target to watch (if there is one available). Of course it is not trivial, but it is definitely not a needle in a hay stack 2 Bonr: since the distances to both the supernova and the dust clod are known, as well as the time of the supernova explosion, it is mathematically not that difficult to pick up the right target to watch (if there is one available). Of course it is not trivial, but it is definitely not a needle in a hay stack

]]> By: Joe Shobe http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44532 Joe Shobe Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:18:09 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44532 I think they would have calculated where the light would reflect from in order to reach here now - i.e., where is a mirror to this event about 436 light years away from the event, and then scour that neighborhood. I think they would have calculated where the light would reflect from in order to reach here now – i.e., where is a mirror to this event about 436 light years away from the event, and then scour that neighborhood.

]]> By: Joe Shobe http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44531 Joe Shobe Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:15:46 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44531 Ah, but consider that the light from Earth from millions to hundreds of millions of years ago, is only now reaching viewing spots millions to hundreds of millions of light years away. Imagin a telescope orbiting some star 50 million light years away, peering down onto Earth. Aim a telescope from Earth orbit, like Hubble, directly into the viewer of the telescope 50 million ligh ears away, and you will be seeing Earth as it was then. Let's do the same thing from say, 10 light minutes away and sell it as a carnival attraction - See Yourself Contemplate Paying the $5, 10 Minutes Ago!!! Yeah, you can do the same thing with a camera. Ah, but consider that the light from Earth from millions to hundreds of millions of years ago, is only now reaching viewing spots millions to hundreds of millions of light years away. Imagin a telescope orbiting some star 50 million light years away, peering down onto Earth. Aim a telescope from Earth orbit, like Hubble, directly into the viewer of the telescope 50 million ligh ears away, and you will be seeing Earth as it was then. Let's do the same thing from say, 10 light minutes away and sell it as a carnival attraction – See Yourself Contemplate Paying the $5, 10 Minutes Ago!!!

Yeah, you can do the same thing with a camera.

]]> By: Bonr http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44530 Bonr Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:12:24 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44530 Wait. Can someone please explain: 1) How the astronomers knew WHERE to look. 2) How the astronomers knew WHEN to look. Are they simply scanning the nearby space for dust clouds that might reflect the supernova back to Earth? If so, that's pretty "needle in a hay stack (or more like hay mountain)" no? Wait. Can someone please explain:

1) How the astronomers knew WHERE to look.

2) How the astronomers knew WHEN to look.

Are they simply scanning the nearby space for dust clouds that might reflect the supernova back to Earth? If so, that's pretty "needle in a hay stack (or more like hay mountain)" no?

]]> By: kenn hammer http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44529 kenn hammer Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:04:01 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44529 we have named a observatory after tycho brahe. in copenhagen. a great dane we have named a observatory after tycho brahe. in copenhagen. a great dane

]]> By: kenn hammer http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44528 kenn hammer Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:00:32 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44528 whe have named a observatory after tycho brahe. a great dane :p whe have named a observatory after tycho brahe. a great dane :p

]]> By: trux http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44522 trux Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:30:26 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44522 This is absolutely amazing and fabulous! I am surprised it does not get much more boost in the media. I always dreamed about the possibility of peeking into the past through cosmic mirrors, but had no idea it is already technologically possible. Although it is still far from watching the Earth hundreds or millions years ago, it is absolutely fascinating anyway! Or perhaps even more important than that. This is absolutely amazing and fabulous! I am surprised it does not get much more boost in the media. I always dreamed about the possibility of peeking into the past through cosmic mirrors, but had no idea it is already technologically possible. Although it is still far from watching the Earth hundreds or millions years ago, it is absolutely fascinating anyway! Or perhaps even more important than that.

]]> By: Rick Burns http://www.universetoday.com/2008/12/03/astronomers-time-travel-to-16th-century-supernova/comment-page-1/#comment-44518 Rick Burns Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:20:31 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=21799#comment-44518 Okay this isn't a very scientific observation but I'll state it anyway. The image of this supernova is beautiful and it displays the magnificence of our universe. Okay this isn't a very scientific observation but I'll state it anyway. The image of this supernova is beautiful and it displays the magnificence of our universe.

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