Okay, some of you know I posted this link before, but for those who haven't you gotta see this. It's the Hubble image of M81. It's incredible. You can use the magnifier and scan around. It's like having zoom binoculars, or a microscope.
While exploring this photo, I have been amazed at how many galaxies are in it. I know this sounds dumb, but I'm going to try to count them. Any guesses? It'll take me a few days, I think. What I'd really like to do is make a small thumbnail of each one and put them all together in a huge montage. Anyway, go see it and take a guess. I'll be back in a few days.
2007-12-23 03:39:53 · 12 answers · asked by Brant 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Sorry. After all that, I forgot to post the link.
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2007/19/image/a/
2007-12-23 03:42:44 · update #1
To state the answer very simply, I do not think we will every know how many galaxies are in this universe. See the video on the link...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcBV-cXVWFw
For every seemingly empty patch of sky, it seems they find million of other new galaxies.
As for the picture of M81 you mention, and ones I have for M31 Andromeda, as well as others I have stored on my hard drive, to literally say that there are more galaxies in the sky than there are grains of sands on a beach is easily quite possible.
Also, check out information on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey...totally awesome...
http://www.sdss.org/
2007-12-23 04:32:33 · answer #1 · answered by Shaula 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've been fascinated by our universe for a long time. The hubble images showing thousands of galaxies is cool. But who are we kidding here? There is no way to count the billions upon billions of galaxies that we think exsist. Having said that, the odds of intelligent life are good. They, like us, may look to stars & ask the same question. I wish I could find someone who understands the universe as I see it.
2007-12-23 03:50:38 · answer #2 · answered by The Eagle Keeper 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thank you!! That is amazing. The universe is so vast. It would be impossible to count all the galaxies in that picture, because many would there if we could only see farther, but I will work on counting the visible ones.
2007-12-23 05:28:08 · answer #3 · answered by North_Star 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In any deep picture of the sky, there will be *LOTS* of galaxies. Most will be small, fuzzy, red, and faint. The total number will be impossible to count, because the faintest images will dissolve into the background noise of the image.
2007-12-23 04:04:01 · answer #4 · answered by cosmo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's AWESOME!!!
Oh and you're not counting galaxies- that's the picture (big isn't it)- you're counting Star systems- like how we live in the Solar System- and each one should have its own name (named after its star)
ex. Our system is the Solar System since our sun's name is acctually Sol
I think it would be fun to look at different planets and try to find out what star system its in and look for the name of the planet!
Good Luck counting the Star Systems
2007-12-23 03:52:55 · answer #5 · answered by I <3 the Joker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey Brant -
That's gonna take more than a few days. I think there are more galaxies here than discrete star images. Good luck, friend.
2007-12-23 04:35:24 · answer #6 · answered by Larry454 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure how many galaxies there but there are a lot of them. I will guess there are about 300. Good luck on counting and happy holidays
2007-12-23 03:48:07 · answer #7 · answered by katlvr125 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Very interesting indeed, I have played with these type photos a few times and each time they still amaze me, I think ill leave the counting up to the experts today,hehe,, Thats a cool pic Brant and thanks for bringing it to us here, cheers
2007-12-23 04:56:41 · answer #8 · answered by SPACEGUY 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I am getting old. I was part of the team that took the first weather Scan pictures of the earth.
it was great. John
2007-12-23 03:54:51 · answer #9 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is why we leave galaxy searching to the scientists. We don't need to be guessing about how many there are.
Brandon
2007-12-23 03:47:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋