Through hubble, we see images of galaxies very far away from earth (million &billion light years). So the images we are seeing are how those galaxies would have looked like million & billion yrs ago.
But how do we know that those galaxies exist right now?
2007-12-22 11:15:04 · 12 answers · asked by jadooshtick 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
as a matter of fact, what you think is right, we see galaxies as they were million years ago, but through those images we can estimate the size of each galaxy and even the included stars, this would lead to calculate their age and when exactly they are gonna die or finish, and what stages would they pass through their lives..
2007-12-22 11:35:01 · answer #1 · answered by dina m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We don't. All we can do is study how they used to be at the time we see them. For all we know, they may not be there any more at all, and what ever wiped them out could be fast approaching. Kind of a pessimistic view, and since we couldn't change anything anyway, we will just pretend everything is fine and go on with our daily lives!
Interesting question, though!
2007-12-22 11:22:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your question is essentially correct------ we don't know they exist right this SECOND. The entire visual universe could have just ceased to EXIST 10 seconds ago.
However due to the age of the known universe-------- I will bet next week's paycheck that "most" of it is still there!
However you question should probably be posted in the philosophy topic section.
2007-12-22 13:24:43 · answer #3 · answered by Bullseye 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if you can still see them, then they do exist. And besides if you're trying to prove why we are here, which would be if those other galaxies don't exist how do we know that we exist, is close to impossible.
2007-12-22 11:19:54 · answer #4 · answered by ngurl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you would have to check back on the path of the galaxies and then move it forward to it's present time. if you have speed of travel then you could look for the same galaxies where it would be now.
2007-12-22 11:18:33 · answer #5 · answered by John M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We don't. It is possible that any one of them could have blown up or been destroyed by a black hole or who knows what else long long ago. All we have to go on is the radiation (visible light, UV, IR, radiowaves, etc) that started coming our way very long ago.
2007-12-22 11:18:47 · answer #6 · answered by Gary H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because both events happen at the same time. They exist and they don't exist! This is superposition on a grand scale!
2007-12-22 14:23:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
simple answer.. we don't.. there is no way to tell, we just have to wait millions of years for the light to reach us, so.. us here on earth right now, we may never know.
2007-12-22 11:18:40 · answer #8 · answered by Fluffington Cuddlebutts 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Becouse new life allway,s replases old my children will replace me and their children will replace them it is the same with all thing,s !
2007-12-22 11:26:41 · answer #9 · answered by david f 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because there has been no evidence they disappeared!
2007-12-22 11:18:22 · answer #10 · answered by the_shepherd's_child 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋