I read somewhere on here that the night sky is so dark because starlight has yet to reach us from alot of stars. If this is so, does this mean that eventually the night sky will be bright like it is during the day?
2006-12-11 14:02:49 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Because the universe is expanding, and finite to begin with, this is not going to happen. However, because of increasing light pollution, or light from metropolises, the night sky is not as dark as it used to be. However, it's unlikely that it'll ever be as bright as daylight.
2006-12-11 14:09:23 · answer #1 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are more factors to the dark night sky than just 'time reaching us'...
The universe is purported to have existed for 15-16 someodd billion years... Light is constantly reaching us from other parts of the universe (as it was billions o years back)...
1) space gases absorb some of the light that travels through the universe before it gets to us. The atmosphere of earth also absorbs much of the light.
2) Light arrives to earth at different times, depending on the distance from earth. Think about light like baseballs... if someone 10 feet away throws one at you at the same time as someone 50 feet and another 100 feet, will they all land by your feet at the same time? Nopes.
3) There is light that is stronger than others. If you lit a lightbulb on the moon, would you see it on earth? Probably not without a strong telescope. Not all light gets to us.
4) There are large distances between galaxies in the universe... From such a miniscule perspective we have, these areas appear dark because no light is coming from that direction, at least not in visible wavelengths.
5) Light waves stretch as they travel. Much of the light from the early universe cant be detected as visible light anymore, but can still be detected by microwave and infra-red light, which we cant see. Technically, we are bombarded by light from everywhere, from all sides, as you theorized would happen, just that that light is not in a wavelength that the eye can see.
And so, the short answer to your question is 'No' : )
2006-12-11 14:20:58 · answer #2 · answered by KC T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While it is true that much starlight has not reached our planet, your assumption that it eventually will is incorrect. Perhaps you misread the answer. This starlight that has not reached us is never going to reach us. That's because it has either been deflected or absorbed on its journey. The night sky would be brighter if all the light from all the stars could make the journey, but they never will. There will always be matter/dust/gravity that filters the light we see. Hope this helps.
2006-12-11 14:10:53 · answer #3 · answered by vidigod 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi:
We're on an arm of the Milky Way galaxy, and our area in space isn't as populated with many stars like some other areas where the stars are more densely packed. If we were in a different section, there would be enough light from more stars that night time light would be pretty much the same as the daytime light. Interesting to ponder that.
2006-12-11 14:09:51 · answer #4 · answered by artistpw 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not really. star light from distant stars will reach us, but only 0.00001% of it. Picture this. A light in your house only manages to light up one or two rooms.
Scale that up, and a star, of course much much bigger and brighter than a regular bulb, has to disperse its light through millions of galaxies.. now, the percentage of that light reaching the solar system is quite less and the percentage of it reaching earth is even lesser. so, the night sky wont be so bright.
However, there is one random possibility. Some scientists beileve that in the far off future, our solar system will come in the path of another star in the milky way. this will cause huge gravitational and orbit differences. so, having light from two stars means you have light 24/7.. then, the night sky will be bright too.
but it aint happening in your or my lifetime..
2006-12-11 14:09:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, but in a few billion years as our sun becomes a red giant
and expands out to earths orbit, it will be bright all the time..
Except mankind will have left earth by that time and will not
be here to see the earth toasted...
2006-12-11 14:10:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Gas and dust clouds absorb much of the light from stars.
2006-12-11 16:46:58 · answer #7 · answered by ZeedoT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I dont think it will! here is ever thing you need to know abut stars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star you can come up with your own thoughts on this!
It is the future and not every thing can be 100% certian.
2006-12-11 14:08:58 · answer #8 · answered by Adam D. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not true
2006-12-11 14:04:17 · answer #9 · answered by Kyle R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋