If we're looking back in time as we look out across the universe, further back the farther we look, then why can't we see the history of our galaxy or solar system formation? In other words, why can't we see our ancient light as well?
2006-07-08 10:06:39 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
What we see in space in our current times when we look into the edge of our Universe is events that took place 18 billion years ago. In order for us to see the formation of solar systems, or galaxies then we have to gaze into something happened between 5-10 billion years ago. Astronomers have looked into the formation of solar systems in space, and or galaxies formation, and have come up with their theories about how solar systems and galaxies had formulated. Who said that we cannot see how solar system and galaxies originated?
2006-07-08 10:41:50 · answer #1 · answered by lonelyspirit 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We are looking back in time because space is so vast that even traveling at the speeds it does, it takes light a long time to reach us. If a an object is 2 million light years away, then it will take the light 2 million years to get to us. This is not much different than recieving a picture from a friend far away, taken on the day it was mailed. Maybe your friend took it at Disneyland but when it gets to you a few days later, you are looking at an event in the past.
The reason you can't see our planet how it was in the past is because we are on it. Now at this very moment, if someone 24 light years away were to point a telescope at our planet, they'd see it how it was 24 years ago.
2006-07-08 11:57:13 · answer #2 · answered by minuteblue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The light from things near us reaches us first, passes by, and goes out to the universe. The light from things farther away takes longer to get here. The light from our galaxy passed by long ago because it was close. The light from other galaxies takes longer to reach us because they are far away. Some are so far that their light is just now reaching us.
Let's say you are watching a marathon. If you stand at the finish line and look at the line of runners coming toward you. The closest one crosses the finish line first and much later the last one finally crosses because the last one was farther away from you.
2006-07-08 10:21:59 · answer #3 · answered by physandchemteach 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
answer 3 is right on. Think of it this way the sun is 8 minutes away at the speed of light. So when you look at the sun you are seeing it as it was 8 minutes ago. If you look at the other side of out galaxy you are seeing it 100k years ago, out closest star 4.2 years ago and so on.
2006-07-08 10:33:56 · answer #4 · answered by adam j 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because our "light" is moving outward. If there were a galactic mirror millions of light years away when we look at it we would most surely see our past, so long as our vantage point is Earth.
2006-07-08 11:41:20 · answer #5 · answered by smutz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It not far away enough. We see long time ago light cuz it still be coming and rom longgg way away. Local stuff light here on earth quicky quicky/
2006-07-08 10:14:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
beacuas that light is moving away from us, in order for us to see it, we, and the solor system would have to be moving at the speed of llight
2006-07-08 10:10:35 · answer #7 · answered by darkpheonix262 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its starting to erk me that no one likes to research, If you want click this, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_ microwave_background_radiation and enjoy what researching can bring.
2006-07-08 10:42:51 · answer #8 · answered by Soulslave 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋