Does the time difference confuse you?

Question

I am often so confused because I know when I look at something in the sky like a star I could be looking at it the way it actually was many many years ago. Because it took so long for the light to travel. So its like looking back in time? But what I don't understand is when Astronomers say they found something new like a new star or planet or whatnot, its not very new is it? And when you look through a telescope and see something closer, are you looking forward in time, or is it just the same way without a telescope, just magnified?

Answer 1

You're right about "new" stars actually being old. The light takes a long time to get here and often when we say a "new" star has been discovered, we don't mean that it just formed, we merely mean that we know have the ability to see it with modern technology.

When you look into a telescope, the object only appears closer. It is really the same distance away so you are looking just as far into the past as with the naked eye.

It is a little confusing if you think about it too hard but you'll get it if you just relax.

Answer 2

It is true that the further away in light years, the further back in time we see. But for everyday practical use -- even in astronomy -- we can consider what we see in the night sky, be it with the unaided eye or with a telescope, to be the "present day" stars.

It's only when dealing with cosmology -- and that usually means REALLY immense distances of billions of light years where the "back in time" factor becomes important -- since the structure of galaxies and their clusters was different in the earlier periods of the universe.

Answer 3

Telescope see just like our naked eyes...its just magnified thousand times...& astronomers ever find new stars i doesnt mean its still there cause its a billion light years away..meaning we see all stars in the sky billions of years passed..

Answer 4

When an astronomer spots something new, it is of course new to us; it may actually have arisen millions or even billions of years ago. A telescope simply provides magnification; obviously, it can't change the time that an event happened.

Answer 5

no one really knows and a lot of speculation were made about space and time, not to mention, the stars in the universe. but scientifically, you'd need to go look at something as speculative as the "big bang theory." your question seem awkward at first but i totally got your point. as of that, no one knows for sure. unless you wait light years ahead to get a definite answer(which, by the way, i'm unsure about)....:)

Answer 6

new stars are new, there's an entire cycle that each star goes through. When you look at a star...you're looking at it how it is...and just magnified...I can't believe you even asked this...

Answer 7

Same old song and dance but magnified

Answer 8

we don't see stars in real time, and you are right, by the time we discover a star: it could have been destroyed already

Answer 9

ya its confusing stuff now take off your pants

Answer 10

I am not Confused... Cause i have watch..