The Secrets of the Universe: Measuring Age through Light Travel

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In summary, astronomers are able to determine the age of a cluster by analyzing the light waves and calculating how long it took for the light to reach Earth. The light in the photo above is about 12.7 billion years old, providing a glimpse into the distant past and the farthest reaches of the universe. The age of the Earth, which is approximately 4 billion years old, is unrelated to the age of the light recorded by the telescope. The fact that the Hubble telescope is ten years old also has no bearing on the age of the light it captures.
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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/02/0217_050217_space.html

How can we measure the cluster's age? Because astronomers are able to analyze light waves and thereby tell how long it took for the light, and the images the light creates, to reach Earth. The light that created the images of the galaxies in the photo above is about 12.7 billion years old, so you're actually looking into the distant past as well as the distant limits of the universe

Am i missing some thing? if the Earth is say 4 billion yrs old and the light travel time is 12.7 billion yrs that makes 16.7 billion yrs.
 
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why are you adding two things that have nothing to do with each other
age of the light does NOT care how old the Earth is

example Hubble is about ten years old
what does that have to do with the age of the light recorded
by the ten year old scope
 

Related to The Secrets of the Universe: Measuring Age through Light Travel

1. What is the speed of light and how does it affect travel?

The speed of light is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second in a vacuum. This means that light travels incredibly fast and can cover vast distances in a short amount of time. Its speed also has implications for space travel, as it would take a considerable amount of time to reach other planets or galaxies due to the limitations of the speed of light.

2. How does the theory of relativity relate to light travel?

The theory of relativity, proposed by Albert Einstein, states that the laws of physics are the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion. This theory plays a crucial role in understanding light travel as it explains the relationship between space, time, and light. It also helps us understand how the speed of light remains constant, regardless of the observer's speed or motion.

3. How old is the Earth and how do we know?

The Earth is estimated to be around 4.54 billion years old. This age is determined through various scientific methods, including radiometric dating of rocks and fossils, studying the Earth's magnetic field, and analyzing the composition of meteorites. These methods provide consistent results and support the theory of the Earth's age.

4. Can we observe events that happened millions of years ago through light travel?

Yes, we can observe events that happened millions of years ago through light travel. This is because light takes time to travel through vast distances, and the light from these distant events is just reaching us now. For example, when we look at stars in the night sky, we are seeing how they appeared millions of years ago, not how they look at this moment.

5. How does light travel help us understand the universe's age?

The study of light travel plays a crucial role in understanding the universe's age. By measuring the distance of objects in the universe and the time it takes for light to reach us, we can estimate the age of the universe. This method, known as the Hubble Law, has provided evidence that the universe is around 13.8 billion years old.

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