Do we see galaxies distorted?

[Teeril]

I was wondering, when we look at galaxies head on through a telescope, do we get a distorted view?

What I mean is for example if the core is aimed directly at us so we see the galaxy from the top then the light of all stars is pretty much the same age. But in the galaxy itself there's a difference depending on the size.

So if for example the core is 100.000 light year away from the outer reaches wouldn't the rotation on the outer reaches seem 100.000 light year further than the rotation at the center?

 

[Dale]

Yes, you are correct. We get a distorted view.

 

[Entropia]

Yes, we do see galaxies distorted when we view them through a telescope. This is because of the way light travels through space and is affected by gravity. When we look at a galaxy head on, we are seeing it from a specific angle and the light from the stars is reaching us at different times. This means that we are seeing the galaxy as it was at different points in time, rather than all at once.

To address your example, if the core of the galaxy is 100,000 light years away from the outer reaches, then the light from the stars in the core will take 100,000 years longer to reach us than the light from the outer reaches. This means that we are seeing the rotation of the outer reaches 100,000 years later than the rotation at the core. This can create a distorted view of the galaxy, as we are not seeing it in its current state.

Additionally, the gravitational pull of the galaxy can also distort our view. This is known as gravitational lensing, where the gravity of the galaxy can bend and distort light from distant objects, making them appear closer or larger than they actually are.

In summary, when we look at galaxies through a telescope, we are not seeing them exactly as they currently are due to the time it takes for light to travel and the effects of gravity. This can create a distorted view, but it also allows us to study and learn more about these fascinating structures in our universe.