2006-07-05 15:32:32 · 13 answers · asked by duke7900 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Technically you aren't looking back in time but the light from those stars is just now reaching the earth. You're not looking back in time per se. So you could not see a previous version of our solar system.
2006-07-05 15:39:21 · answer #1 · answered by bigtony615 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you could instantly get out to those stars that are a billion light years away, and then look back at the earth with a super super power telescope, you could see our solar system as it was a billion years ago.
However, by the same set of theories, you CAN'T instantly get out there. If you raced out there at the speed of light, then when you turned around and looked back at earth, you would see earth as light that had left right about when you did. You could not see any light that left before you did because you can't catch it unless you go faster than light and according to the theory set you are using (and most scientists use) that can't be done.
2006-07-05 22:38:10 · answer #2 · answered by enginerd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because the time factor is relative to the distance. The farther away from us something is the longer time the light has to travel at it's limited speed to get to us. We can see this with the light from our sun. It takes approx. 8 minutes to reach us from the time the photons leave the surface of the sun. The light from our next nearest neighbour star takes approx. 4.2 light years so we see it as it was 4.2 years ago. Therefore, because we are at the source of the light we can only see it in its present state. At most, we can see the outer planets as they were hours ago.
2006-07-05 22:50:43 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we could only see our solar system billions of years ago if we were billions of light years away
2006-07-05 22:41:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course not. In order to do that we would have to be billions of light years away, looking back at the Earth. With some real good binoculars.
2006-07-05 22:38:11 · answer #5 · answered by PuppetDog 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because there isn't a mirror to reflect the light rays that went OUTWARD from our solar system years ago. Sorry.
2006-07-05 22:49:26 · answer #6 · answered by cdf-rom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok its like this if you see jupiter in the night sky u are seeing it as it was 12 seconds ago.
ok say u see a star that is 1 light year away. you are seeing the image as it was the time it takes light to hit our eyes get it?
2006-07-05 22:43:03 · answer #7 · answered by Teagan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
then you should place a mirror at that place and see from here.sorry thats a joke.you may imagine about your solar system by seeing the other ones which are billions of lightyears behind of us and near the place of big bang
2006-07-06 12:00:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
okay i dont exactly get what u mean but i think when u see a star ur really seeing it 3000 years ago... it takes that long for the light to Travel to our Beautiful planet... so 3000 years later is when u see shooting stars and stuff like that.. neet huh?
2006-07-05 22:37:47 · answer #9 · answered by dreamlovey_xo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know but am fascinated by these larger and loftier things to ponder about than our everyday problems and would love to know if it is the past. I don't know enough on the topic to make an educated guess even.
2006-07-05 22:36:42 · answer #10 · answered by famous 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋