Universe Today

Artist's rendering of the Kepler Mission (NASA)

One of the biggest questions in astronomy and astrophysics is if there are planets like Earth somewhere beyond our solar system. For the longest time it was impossible to find out for sure. This was for several reasons. First stars are much bigger than planets. Second, stars are much brighter than planets. Because of these to facts it was impossible for telescopes to find planets beyond our solar system. It is like a normal person trying to find to seen an atom beneath someone's show with their naked eye. Then came the Kepler observatory.

Scientist have developed many indirect methods to guess if a star had planets. They could observes a star's motion or see if its light was bent by gravity. These methods were based on the fact that a star with planets would move in a small circle caused by the center of mass of shared star and it planets. With the right instruments and calculations astronomers could determine if a star had planets.

The Kepler observatory is a space observatory that was launched March 9 last year. It had new instrument that would allow for more rapid and efficient discovery of extrasolar planets. It does so by observing the light of stars. The is called the transit method and it is actually quite simple and effective. A star should emit a steady amount of light if it has no planets. However, if a planet were to pass in between it and Earth we would be able to notice a slight dip in the amount of light we observe from the star. The Kepler space observatory does this using a photometer that measures the apparent magnitude of target stars. However there are some drawbacks. The dip in magnitude can be caused by the star itself. For this reason such stars are excluded. Another problem is line of sight. Only a percentage of all stars are observable from earth and an even smaller percentage likely have planets whose orbits are on the same plane as ours. However this still leaves a large number of stars to observe.

The main mission of the Kepler Observatory is to find planets in the habitable zones of stars that might have similar characteristics to Earth. We are able to do this because we can calculate the diameter of found planets from the dip in apparent magnitude caused when they pass in front of their stars. The Kepler mission is expected to last 3.5 years.

If you enjoyed this article there are several others Universe Today that you will enjoy. There is a good article about Kepler's first planet sighting. There is also an interesting article about Kepler being used to measure the size of the Universe.

You can also find great resources online. You can go to NASA's Kepler web site. You can also check out seti.org.

You can also listen Astronomy Cast. Episode 34 talks about looking for other Earths.

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Here are some amazing earth photos from space. You can turn any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then right-click and choose "Set as Desktop Background".

Looking Down on Earth

This photo of the earth, particularly the Indian Ocean was captured in 1999 during the STS-96 mission of space shuttle Discovery. Discovery is one of the three operational orbiters of NASA's space shuttle fleet. Atlantis and Endeavor are the other two.

Ivan the Terrible

This image of Hurricane Ivan was taken by Astronaut Edward M. Fincke from the International Space Station in September 2004. Hurricane Ivan is considered the 10th stongest Atlantic hurricane.

Earthrise - Apollo 8

This spectacular image of the earth as seen from the moon was taken by the astronauts onboard the Apollo 8 space craft in December 1968. Apollo 8 was the first human spaceflight mission to successfully escape from the earth's gravitational field.

Bosporus Strait

Here's an image of the Bosporus Strait obtained from the International Space Station in April 16, 2004. Bosporus Strait is known to separate the Asian and European parts of Turkey.

Taking out the Trash

This photo shows the usual scene when a supply vehicle such as Progress 14 takes out wastes to the space. These wastes are usually called space junk. They will eventually be burned once they enter the earth's atmosphere. This image was captured from the International Space Station on July 30, 2004.

We have written many articles about the planet Earth for Universe Today. Here's an article about life beyond earth, and here's an article about modeling the earth's magnetic field.

If you'd like more info about the Earth, check out Visible Earth, and here's a link to the NASA Earth Observatory Homepage.

We've also recorded related episodes of Astronomy Cast about the Earth. Listen here, Episode 51: Earth.

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Here are some photos of the earth taken from space. You can turn any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then right-click and choose "Set as Desktop Background".

Wilkins Ice Shelf

This photo of the Wilkins Ice Shelf located in the Antarctica was captured by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) onboard NASA's Terra satellite in April 12, 2009. This shelf is approximately the size of Jamaica.

View of Earth’s horizon taken by Expedition 7

This breathtaking photo of the earth's horizon was taken from the International Space Station by an Expedition 7 astronaut in July 21, 2003. Expedition 7 used the Soyuz-TMA spacecraft which is the most recent revision of the Soyuz spacecraft.

The Blue Marble from Apollo 17

This is a spectacular full view of our planet earth. It was taken by the Apollo 17 during their journey to the moon in December 7, 1972. The south polar ice cap of Antarctica can be clearly seen in the image. This region constitutes 70% of the world's freshwater. This photo of the earth was the first to feature the south polar ice cap.

Oblique Shot of the Earth

This image showing the earth's curvature was taken from a space shuttle during the EarthKAM program in September 4, 1997. The space shuttle was directly above the northwestern part of the African continent when this image was captured.

Mir Dreams

This image of the earth and the Mir space station was captured by the space shuttle Atlantis crew members in 1996. The image features the southern part of New Zealand and the city of Nelson. Mir belongs to the Soviet (Russian) space system and is considered the longest consistently manned space station.

We have written many articles about the planet Earth for Universe Today. Here's an article about the carbon cycle, and here's an article about the albedo of the earth.

If you'd like more info about the Earth, check out Visible Earth, and here's a link to the NASA Earth Observatory Homepage.

We've also recorded related episodes of Astronomy Cast about the Earth. Listen here, Episode 51: Earth.

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Here are some amazing earth views from space. You can turn any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then right-click and choose "Set as Desktop Background".

View From a Window

This image of the earth's horizon, Soyuz 13 spacecraft and the Progress 22 resupply vehicle was taken from the International Space Station during the STS-116 mission. The STS-116 mission was succesfully flown by the space shuttle Discovery.

The Earth & Moon

This image of the earth and its moon was taken separately by the spacecraft Galileo in 1992 during its journey to planet Jupiter. Galileo was launched in October 18, 1989 and became the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter.

Sunset

This image of the sunset on earth was captured from the International Space Station by an Expedition 13 astronaut in August 10, 2006. Expedition 13 mission was able to accomplish a total of 2,886 orbits.

SuitSat-1 Floats Free

This is an image of the SuitSat-1 roaming freely on space taken from the International Space Station. This is the latest satellite of earth launched on Feb. 3, 2006.

Spider Crater, Western Australia

This photo provides an amazing view of the Spider Crater located in the Western Australia. It was taken in August 11, 2000 by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) onboard NASA’s Terra satellite.

We have written many articles about the planet Earth for Universe Today. Here's an article about the crust of the earth, and here's an article about the earth's axis.

If you'd like more info about the Earth, check out Visible Earth, and here's a link to the NASA Earth Observatory Homepage.

We've also recorded related episodes of Astronomy Cast about the Earth. Listen here, Episode 51: Earth.

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Here are some cool photos of the earth. You can turn any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then right-click and choose "Set as Desktop Background".

Earth - South America (first frame of Earth Spin Movie)

Here's an image of the earth taken from a distance of 1.3 million miles by the space craft Galileo as it travels towards Jupiter in December 11, 1990.

Eclipsed Earth

This is how a solar eclipse on a macroscale looks like. This image was taken from the Mir space station in August 11, 1999. Mir is the longest consistently manned space station.

Sunset

This image shows the earth's atmosphere in layers. It was obtained by the STS-127 crew from space craft, Endeavor in July 29, 2009. The mission was launched to deliver and assemble the two final components of the Japanese Experiment Module.

Ivan the Terrible

Here's the image of the tenth strongest hurricane in the Atlantic, Hurricane Ivan, reaching a maximum wind speed of 170 mph. This photo of the hurricane in the Caribbean Sea was obtained from the International Space Station in 2004.

Spider Crater, Western Australia

This image of the Spider Crater located in the Western Australia was taken in August 11, 2000 by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) onboard NASA’s Terra satellite.

We have written many articles about the planet Earth for Universe Today. Here's an article about the hottest place on earth, and here's an article about the composition of the earth's atmosphere.

If you'd like more info about the Earth, check out Visible Earth, and here's a link to the NASA Earth Observatory Homepage.

We've also recorded related episodes of Astronomy Cast about the Earth. Listen here, Episode 51: Earth.

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Here are some earth space pictures. You can turn any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then right-click and choose "Set as Desktop Background".

View of Earth’s horizon taken by Expedition 7

This amazing picture of the Pacific Ocean was taken from the International Space Station by an Expedition 7 astronaut. Expedition 7 space shuttle was launched in April 25, 2003 and has successfully landed back to earth in October 27, 2003.

LONDON AT NIGHT, UK-ENGLAND

This spectacular image of the city lights of London, England was captured from the International Space Station on the night of February 4, 2003.

Sandy Desert, Eastern Chad October 1992

Here's an image of the Ennedi Plateau located in eastern Chad, one of the portions of the vast Sahara Desert taken from space. The Ennedi Plateau is known for its rich collection of Nile crocodiles.

Noctilucent Clouds

This amazing photo of the earth and moon was taken by an astronaut from the International Space Station in July 27, 2003. The clouds in the photo are perfect examples of noctilucent clouds or clouds that are characterized by blue and white sharply defined streaks. This type is considered the highest in the earth's atmosphere.

Earth in Full View

Here's an image of the earth taken by the Apollo 17 crew as they traveled to the moon in 1972. It is the final lunar landing of the NASA Apollo program. The image features a full view of the continent of Africa and Antarctica.

We have written many articles about the Earth for Universe Today. Here's an article about the wettest place on earth, and here's an article about the lowest point on earth.

If you'd like more info about the Earth, check out Visible Earth, and here's a link to the NASA Earth Observatory Homepage.

We've also recorded related episodes of Astronomy Cast about the Earth. Listen here, Episode 51: Earth.

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Here are some cool photos of earth from space. You can turn any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then right-click and choose "Set as Desktop Background".

Earth - South America (first frame of Earth Spin Movie)

This amazing photo of the earth was captured by the space craft Galileo during its flight to Jupiter in December 11, 1990. The Galileo space craft was built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to study the Jupiter system.

View of the Journey Home

Here's a unique photo of the earth's atmosphere taken by the crew members of Atlantis' STS-125 mission during its preparation for landing on May 20, 2009.

Extent of Station Fire Burn

Here's a satellite image of the coverage of the recent forest fire that happened in California last September 6, 2009. This image was taken by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument carried by NASA's Terra satellite. This has been the largest forest fire ever recorded in Los Angeles' history.

Hanging Out

This picture shows a spectacular view of the earth behind astronaut Michael Gernhardt of the STS-69 mission of the space shuttle Endeavor in 1995.

Earthrise - Apollo 8

This spectacular image of the earth as seen from the moon was taken by the astronauts onboard the Apollo 8 space craft in December 1968.

We have written many articles about the planet Earth for Universe Today. Here's an article about the earth's inner core, and here's an article about how long humans have been on earth.

If you'd like more info about the Earth, check out Visible Earth, and here's a link to the NASA Earth Observatory Homepage.

We've also recorded related episodes of Astronomy Cast about the Earth. Listen here, Episode 51: Earth.

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Here are some amazing pictures of earth from outerspace. You can turn any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then right-click and choose "Set as Desktop Background".

A Crescent Earth at Midnight

Here's an amazing picture of the earth in crescent. This breathtaking view of our planet was obtained by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-8) on June 22, 1996. GOES is primarily assigned in monitoring the weather particularly the development of storms and hurricanes in different parts of the earth.

A Different View

This image was taken from the International Space Station by a crew member of the STS-129 mission in November 19, 2009. The image shows the amazing view of the earth's atmosphere behind the Atlantis space craft docked in the station.

A view of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola from the International Space Station

Here's a satellite image of the Caribbean Island from the International Space Station taken by the Expedition 20 crew in September 28, 2009. Haiti, the location of the catastrophic earthquake which occurred just recently, can be found in this island together with Dominican Republic.

Earth in Full View

This full image of the earth was taken by the Apollo 17 crew during their mission to the moon in 1972.

Gosses Bluff Meteorite Crater

This is the satellite image of the Gosses Bluff Meteorite Crater which can be found in the MacDonnell Ranges, Central Australia. This impact crater was caused by an asteroid or comet that was believed to hit the earth in the Cretaceous Period.

We have written many articles about the planet Earth for Universe Today. Here's an article about two satellites colliding in earth orbit, and here's an article about thecoldest place on earth.

If you'd like more info about the Earth, check out Visible Earth, and here's a link to the NASA Earth Observatory Homepage.

We've also recorded related episodes of Astronomy Cast about the Earth. Listen here, Episode 51: Earth.

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Here are some cool pictures of the earth from space. You can turn any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then right-click and choose "Set as Desktop Background".

STS-29 Onboard photo - External Tank Separation

This amazing photo of the earth during the external tank after separation with the space shuttle Discovery was captured from the International Space Station during the STS-29 mission in 1989. The external tank or ET is an important component of a space shuttle flight since it holds and supplies the fuel and oxidizer under pressure to the three space shuttle main engines.

Sunrise in Space

This photo of the earth's atmosphere during sunrise was taken in July 2005 by a Discovery crew member during the STS-114 mission. STS-114 mission was the first Return to Flight mission after the unfortunate loss of the Columbia space shuttle.

The Blue Marble from Apollo 17

This is a spectacular full view of our planet earth. It was taken by the Apollo 17 during their journey to the moon in December 7, 1972. The south polar ice cap of Antarctica can be clearly seen in the image. This region constitutes 70% of the world's freshwater. This photo of the earth was the first to feature the south polar ice cap.

Wilkins Ice Shelf

This photo of the Wilkins Ice Shelf located in the Antarctica was captured by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) onboard NASA's Terra satellite in April 12, 2009. This ice shelf originally measured about 80 nautical miles long and 60 nautical miles wide until it ruptured days before this image was obtained.

Sandy Desert, Eastern Chad October 1992

This image of the Ennedi Plateau in eastern Chad was taken in October 1992 from the International Space Station during the STS-52 mission of the Columbia space shuttle. Ennedi Plateau is part of the vast Sahara Desert.

We have written many articles about the planet Earth for Universe Today. Here's an article about the earth's outer core, and here's an article about the earth's early atmosphere.

If you'd like more info about the Earth, check out Visible Earth, and here's a link to the NASA Earth Observatory Homepage.

We've also recorded related episodes of Astronomy Cast about the Earth. Listen here, Episode 51: Earth.

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Here are some cool earth photos from space. You can turn any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then right-click and choose "Set as Desktop Background".

A Crescent Earth at Midnight

This beautiful photo of the crescent earth was taken by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-8) on June 22, 1996 which was two days after the solstice. This photo particularly highlights the earth's northern hemisphere.

Beginning the Journey Home

This breathtaking photo shows the space shuttle Endeavor (STS-130) getting ready to return to Earth after a week of work with the Expredition 22 crew members from the International Space Station. The space shuttle successfully landed at the Kennedy Space Center on the night of February 21, 2010.

Earth

This is the most detailed photo of the earth to date. This photo came from a collection of satellite photos taken by NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS onboard the Terra satellite. The land and coastal details of this photo came from the combined surface observations from June to September 2001.

Taking out the Trash

This photo shows the unmanned Progress 14 supply vehicle as it disposes the space junk from the International Space Station on July 30, 2004. These will be burned up, like meteors upon entry to the earth's atmosphere.

Wilkins Ice Shelf

This is a photo of the Wilkins Ice Shelf located on the western portion of the Antarctica. It was taken by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) onboard the NASA's Terra satellite on April 12, 2009. ASTER is a high resolution imaging instrument used to obtain detailed maps of the earth.

We have written many articles about the Earth for Universe
Today. Here's an article about what the earth is made of, and here's an article about thetwo new observation satellite missions.

If you'd like more info about the Earth, check out Visible Earth, and here's a link to
the NASA Earth Observatory Homepage.

We've also recorded related episodes of Astronomy Cast about the Earth. Listen here,
Episode 51: Earth.

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Here are some cool Earth images from space. You can make any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then choose "Set as Desktop Background".

Backdropped by a Colorful Earth

Here's an image of the Earth taken from space with the STS-116 Mission Specialists Robert L. Curbeam, Jr. (left) and Christer Fuglesang while participating in their first extravehicular activity on the International Space Station.

Satellite images showing the lakes in Siberia

This image taken by a NASA satellite shows the Siberian lakes gradually disappearing due to global warming.

All Is Illuminated

This spectacular image of the crescent earth was captured by the Optical Spectroscopic and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS) camera on board the Rosetta spacecraft in November 2007.

Earth in Full View

This breathtaking image of the earth was captured by the Apollo 17 crew in 1972 on their way to the Moon.

Morning Sun

This image showing the reflection of the sun on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean was taken from the Apollo 7 spacecraft on Oct. 20, 1968 during its 134th revolution of the Earth.

We have written many articles about the Earth for Universe Today. Here's an article about the fizzing space around the earth, and here's an article about how fast the earth rotates.

If you'd like more info about the Earth, check out Visible Earth, and here's a link to the NASA Earth Observatory Homepage.

We've also recorded related episodes of Astronomy Cast about the Earth. Listen here, Episode 51: Earth.

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There are many myths and stories in literature that talk of mankind being visited by unearthly beings. Some cultures have called them Gods, others have called them angels and messengers. In each of these stories these visitors have abilities that are not normally possessed by human beings. More interesting is that the gave information and technology that supposedly advanced human civilization. While in the past most people would accept the the supernatural explanations of these myths or dismiss them as fiction, Some people now think that these visitors actually were aliens, ancient astronauts from another world who shared their technology and culture with early mankind.

The idea of ancient astronauts is almost as old as the myths and legends it is engendered from. There many accounts of Gods and angels who traversed the heavens and came down to earth. However the first suggestions of such ancient astronauts emerged in early science fiction such as War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells which suggested that Martians had long observed the Earth before launching their attack.

It would not be until the 1960s that there would be serious authors on the subject. Men like Eric von Daniken made the subject popular with their books. The most well known is von Daniken's Chariot of the Gods. The evidence he presented at first glance made sense. He pointed out to interesting myths and legends from ancient civilization as well as artwork and ancient ruins. Many of these are from culture that archaeologists have limited information on. For example the Nazca lines in South America have long confounded scientist. Daniken and others claim that the only way these gigantic drawings could be made was with some sort of ancient aircraft that could give the designers an aerial view. Since there was no evidence of ancient cultures gaining the power of flight it could only be assumed that only extraterrestrials would have the ability.

This is just one of the mysteries that proponents of ancient astronauts use as evidence. However for every person that claims they existed there are those in the scientific community that are still skeptical. Many argue that many of the pieces of evidence used can be debunked. For example there is evidence that the pyramids were wholly of human design. There have even been ruins of failed pyramids discovered as well as detailed information on how they were built.

Either way whether it is true or not it is an interesting question to ponder. When we look at human civilization one of the biggest mysteries is how we literally leapfrogged to modern technology. Some scientist estimate that in the past couple of centuries mankind has advanced several millenia. Whether it was with some otherworldly help remains to be see.

If you enjoyed this article there are other articles that you are on Universe Today that you can enjoy. There is a great article that goes into more detail about ancient astronauts. There is also an interesting article about aliens moving stars to communicate with us.

You can also look at some resources online. There is an interesting power point about the viability of ancient astronauts on the University of Cincinnati physics website. You should also check out ufoevidence.org to find out some of the evidence that is used to support claims of ancient astronauts.

You can also check out Astronomy Cast. There is an interesting episode about astrobiology.

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The orbit of the hypothetical planet Nibiru (Sitchin.com)

Nibiru is a supposed wandering planet whose passage near Earth would cause a devastating apocalypse in the 20th century. The idea is a major part of 2012 mythology and was mentioned as part of the promotion for the disaster film 2012. The veracity of this rogue planet is in doubt.

The idea is that the ancient Mesopotamians and other ancient astronomers had observed and predicted a wandering planet with an orbit that would only make it visible to observers on earth every 3500 years. The speculation on Nibiru is only the latest in a series of apocalyptic theories. The firs person to propose this scenario was Nancy Lieder the founder of the web site ZetaTalk. She claimed that when she was a young girl she encountered a race of aliens called the Zetas. They supposedly implanted a communication in her head allowing her to communicate with them. She first claimed that the planet which she called planet x would pass near the earth. The resulting interaction between the magnetic core of the earth and the magnetic field of planet x would result in a migration of the Earth's magnetic poles causing a crust displacement.

She went on to claim that it would occur in May 2003. Of course when it did not happen on the promised date she claimed the date was a false one to fool the establishment and claimed that it would happen in 2010. The current name for her planet X, Nibiru came from an author Zechariah Sitchin who wrote about ancient astronauts, extraterrestrials believed to have visited Earth in ancient times. It was supposedly the name of a particular planet observed by the ancient that had a similar orbit to Ms. Lieder's Planet X.

In the end you can see that what everyone knows is an amalgation of different sources. It has now been tied to the supposed 2012 Mayan apocalypse which is explored in a popular movie that came out last year, 2012. However scientists are skeptical on several fronts. Shaky time line aside, a planet passing so close to Earth would be visible to the naked eye long before it reached Earth. Scientist also assert that we would also be warned by a change in the orbits of the outer planets. Also many people who are experts on the Mayan calendar state that 2012 is considered the end of an age and not the end of the world.

If you enjoyed this article there are others on Universe Today that you will enjoy. There is a great article about Planet X and astronomers that tried to discover it. There is also another great article that debunks the existence of Nibiru.

There are also some great resources online. There is a great article about 2012 on NASA's ask an astrobiologist website. There is also an interesting article on the subject on Discovery.com.

You can also check out Astronomy Cast. Episode 159 talks about Planet X.

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Stars wandering outside the galactic plane of the Milky Way could number in the billions. Image Credit: APOD

The Milky Way is the galaxy that are our Solar system to resides in. It is also the very first galaxy that astronomers were aware of. The word galaxy gets its name from the Greek Galaxios which means milky circle. This refers to the band of light that is visible in the night sky. This is the visible portion of the Milky Way galaxy that we can see from Earth. It has been observed by several cultures and though to have many meanings. For example the Mayans thought that the Milky way was a celestial path that lead to the underworld.

The Milky Way Galaxy is a spiral galaxy. This type of galaxy has a center with arms of clustered stars spiraling out. The Milky Way Galaxy is estimated to have anywhere from 200 billion to 400 billion stars. If that does not give you an idea of how big it is, the Milky Way is roughly 100,000 light years in diameter. That basically means if we even had the technology to traverse it at the speed of light it would take hundreds of generations to travel across the Milky Way. Another interesting feature is that the Milky way seems to have a massive black hole at the center that is several times greater than most observed in space.

The Milky Way was considered to be a celestial phenomenon, but few astronomers realized that it was actually composed of distant stars. This was because the ancient astronomers believed the stars where fixed on a celestial sphere that surrounded the Earth. This lead philosophers like Aristotle to believe that the Milky Way was actually the result of the ether between the stars being ignited. However the ancient philosopher Democritus ,the first person to theorize the existence of the atom, made a more accurate guess. He proposed that the Milky Way was actually a cluster of distant stars. This was the first discovery of a galaxy and the hint that the universe was much larger than originally thought. Further observations with improved telescopes helped to confirm these ancient findings. Astronomer Edwin Hubble not only confirmed the existence of the Milky Way but also of other galaxies.

There are still many mysteries about the Milky Way and other galaxies that have not been explained. For instance, the Milky Way and its fellow galaxies are more massive than they appear. Astrophysicists have determined that this means there is a type of matter not observable under any currently known form of radiation. Hopefully future research should reveal more about this unique type of matter.

If you enjoyed this article there are several others on Universe Today that you will enjoy. There is a great article about Edwin Hubble and his discoveries. You can also learn more about Democritus and his work on the atom.

There are also many great resources online that you can use to learn more about the Milky Way. There is a great article about the structure of the Milky Way on the University of California San Diego Astrophysics website. you can also check out the Milky Way page on the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research website.

You can also listen to Astronomy Cast. Episode 99 is about the Milky Way.

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How will we travel in space in the future? This is a question that we have been asking ourselves for decades. However we have had to rethink what is possible depending on the emergence of new technologies or the realization of real limitations. So what is being done now to advance space travel in the 21st century and what are the new concepts that can advance space travel in the decades and centuries beyond?

To start with we have to look at immediate trends in space travel. At the moment we can escape the Earth's atmosphere and go as far as the moon. When this feat was first achieved in the sixties NASA was thinking that it would be just a short time before they could actually send men to mars. However this never materialized due to budget concerns. The main goal right now is replacing the space shuttle and returning to the moon or going to Mars.

The space shuttles are now being replace in lieu of more effective and reusable space transport. Like the shuttle it would be used for earth orbit missions but would have enough versatility to also be used for long term space missions like one to Mars. The new module is the Orion CEV. This capsule is based on a blend of technologies from the Apollo mission and the space shuttle program. NASA has contracted the design and manufacture to Lockheed Martin.

The other major trend is the commercialization of space. For more than 40 years space travel has been exclusively dominated by national governments. The problem is that a cheaper method of getting into space has not emerged. This has started to change as private entrepreneurs are starting to invest in private space craft and looking to expand access to space to the masses. The venture that is furthest along is Virgin Galatica. This is a venture that has managed to make a private craft that can ecape the Earth's atmosphere. If the trend continues the following decades can see space travel become as affordable as taking a commercial airplane flight.

There are still many concepts for space travel that have not been explored yet. The first is a warp drive. You may know about this if you ever saw Star Trek. The concept basically has a craft wrapped in a bubble of space time and traveling faster than light. Another concept is a matter-antimatter engine. This would allow for more efficient and effective space travel. However the science has not yet become reality.

If you enjoyed this article there are several more that you can read on Universe Today. There is a great article about space tourism. There is another great article about warp drive and what it would take to make it work.

If you want to learn more there are some great resources online. You can check out the future space channel on howstuffworks.com. It has a series of articles you will find interesting. You can also check out the space exploration web page of bbc.co.uk.

You should also listen to Astronomy Cast. Episode 167 talks about future civilizations.

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