What would the night sky look like from the edge of a distant galaxy?

[marrsal]

Lets suppose I live in a planet that is located in the tip of a galaxy that is ubicated at the most distant point from our universe. What would I see if I look up to the sky at night(looking away from the center of my galaxy)?

Manuel.

 

[russ_watters]

I'm not sure what you mean by "the most distant point from our universe". However, if you looked away from the center of the galaxy with your naked eye, you'd see nothing. If you used a telescope, you'd see the sky was completely filled with galaxies (a la the Hubble Deep Field).

 

[g33kski11z]

...if you looked away from the center of the galaxy with your naked eye, you'd see nothing...

Wouldn't that depend on the rotation of the planet? ..or is it that the stars "outside" of the galaxy would be so faint?

 

[mgb_phys]

Wouldn't that depend on the rotation of the planet? ..or is it that the stars "outside" of the galaxy would be so faint?

In general there are no stars outside a galaxy, so the only objects you would see are other galaxies. because of the distances involved other galaxies are rather faint. the nearest galaxy to us M31 is pretty close and is only just visible to the naked eye - and that would be the brightest star in your sky.

 

[marrsal]

The question goes again, what would I see in the sky at night if I happen to live in a planet that is located at the tip of Galaxy (not our milky way), but another Galaxy that happens to be at the most distant possible point away from the center of our Universe? (of course, supposing that I am not looking towards the galaxy I am ubicated, but "away" from it, since I am in the tip of that galaxy). Then question is applied with all kind of telescopes incuding radiotelescopes.

 

[g33kski11z]

In general there are no stars outside a galaxy, so the only objects you would see are other galaxies. Because of the distances involved other galaxies are rather faint.

That makes sense, but what if the planets rotation itself caused the planet to face the center of the galaxy then away. I've attached a quick diagram of what I'm trying to say.

...most distant possible point away from the center of our Universe?

The universe doesn't have a "center". That is a common misconception.

...all kind of telescopes including radio telescopes.

I would assume you'd be able to see the CMB and other distant galaxies as Mgb_phys stated. It would also depend on what type of telescope you are using.

 

[turbo]

These authors found that the stellar disk of NGC 300 extends to ~10 radii - much larger than previously thought, so collecting visible light with our current instruments leaves us "blind" to a lot of what is out there. Also, what you see is highly dependent on what wavelengths you observe in. We assume that the universe is homogeneous and isotropic at large scales, meaning that apart from small overdensities such as clusters and chains, galaxies are smoothly distributed, and the night sky from your theoretical planet would look remarkably like the one we see from Earth.

http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0602573

 

[DaveC426913]

Once I thought was a bad typo but twice is no accident...

What is an ubicated?



(thinks hard to himself:

'ubi'

semper ubi sub ubi = always wear underwear

ubi = wear
ubi = where?

ubicated = wherecated?
= located??

Tests:
"...a galaxy that is located at the most distant point ..."
"...not looking towards the galaxy I am located, but "away" from it..."
Pass!

Does marssal speak Latin?

)

 

[mgb_phys]

That makes sense, but what if the planets rotation itself caused the planet to face the center of the galaxy then away. I've attached a quick diagram of what I'm trying to say.

Then half the time you would have a sky with a faint milky-way (depending on the galaxy's orientation to you) and half the time an empty sky. A bit like having a full or new moon.

Even on Earth which is about 2/3 of the way to the edge the galaxy is pretty faint unless you are on a dark site so from a planet on the edge of the halo it wouldn't be half the sky full of stars.

 

[DaveC426913]

...most distant possible point away from the center of our Universe?

The universe doesn't have a "center". That is a common misconception.

I think this may get at the crux of the OP's question. The OP seems to want to know what we would see if we looked outward from "the edge of the universe". Resolving this misunderstanding will likely resolve the OP's question.

 

[turbo]

ubicated is Italian for "located", I think

 

[DaveC426913]

So 'tis, so 'tis!

 

[djeitnstine]

I think this may get at the crux of the OP's question. The OP seems to want to know what we would see if we looked outward from "the edge of the universe". Resolving this misunderstanding will likely resolve the OP's question.

yes we know, and to the OP we need a few millenia to know if our universe is even finite in size.

 

[marrsal]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, english is not my native languaje, it is spanish (sorry for the location/ubication confusion). The OP question is as some of you have said, What would I be able to see if I point all kinds of telescopes away from my galaxy that happens to be at "the edge of the universe?". I also can conceive the idea of universe without a center if we do not believe in the big-bang. But since must of the beleivers "beleive" in the big-bang, then would have to mention "center of the universe" as a possible reference point.

marrsal.

 

[russ_watters]

I also can conceive the idea of universe without a center if we do not believe in the big-bang. But since must of the beleivers "beleive" in the big-bang, then would have to mention "center of the universe" as a possible reference point.

No, as said above, that is a common misconception about the Big Bang. It didn't happen at one point, expanding outward, it happened everywhere. It is similar to the concept of a center of a spherical surface, but in 3d instead of 2d. The British may have constructed the longitude scale to put themselves at 0 degrees, but that doesn't make them the central point on Earth's surface.

The fact that the Hubble Deep Field and Ultra Deep Field show that the sky is literally filled with galaxies regardless of where we look supports the Big Bang theory, it does not refute it.

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2004/07/

 

[marrsal]

Are you saying that because there is no center, then there is no "edge", therefore I can never point with an hypothetical telescope from an hypothetical planet looking away from an hypothetical galaxy located (not ubicated) at the "edge" of our universe? The explanation of the 3D spherical surface was not very convincing to apply into our universe and big-bang theory.

marrsal.

 

[russ_watters]

Convincing or not, that's how it works. It's something you'll just need to accept. Though the evidence that comes with it really should help it make more sense.

 

[marrsal]

Would love to read something about that EVIDENCE. I am strong beleiver of a science based on sense, than evidence based on non sense. I want to think you have answered my question, but I still feel that I have not had it answered. ( I hope somebody has understood it).

marrsal.

 

[russ_watters]

Here are the basic pieces of observational/theoretical evidence for the Big Bang: http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/bb_pillars.html

 

[DaveC426913]

Imagine yourself sitting on a giant inflated balloon. The balloon is sealed, it has no nipple, but the sun is warming its insides so it is expanding. Now try to find a spot on the surface of the balloon that you could call "the centre" i.e. where everything is expanding away from you and the "edge of the expansion" is farthest from you in all directions.

There is no such place. Or more accurately, everywhere is the centre.

Note that that balloon did start off very tiny, hypothetically at a point, but on the expanded balloon there is no such single point. Note also that, while the balloon has no edge-beyond- which-there-is-no-more-balloon (it is unbounded), the balloon is still finite in size.

 

[DaveC426913]

Would love to read something about that EVIDENCE. I am strong beleiver of a science based on sense, than evidence based on non sense. I want to think you have answered my question, but I still feel that I have not had it answered. ( I hope somebody has understood it).

marrsal.

The evidence is all around us. Everywhere we cast our telescopes we see a homogeny of mass density. We do not see a centre-from-which-everything-is-expanding, nor do we see an edge.

 

[marrsal]

I have mentioned on my previous post that "The explanation of the 3D spherical surface was not very convincing to apply into our universe and big-bang theory". And I said that, because why/when and who has decided to exclude the "air inside and outside the balloon" to be part of the universe. Even so, if we decide to exclude this "air (in/out of the balloon)", the "matter" that makes the balloon should have a certain "thickness". I perfectly understand the concept of expansion in all directions (if you are an atom embedded in the balloon material), but still it should be possible to live in one of these atoms/galaxies that are located in the "surface" of the balloon/universe and look "up".

Manuel

 

[russ_watters]

And I said that, because why/when and who has decided to exclude the "air inside and outside the balloon" to be part of the universe.

You must understand, as said above, that the expanding balloon is a 2D analogy to a 3d phenomena. Most people are incapable of actually imagining the 3d equivalent. But perhaps this will help: the surface of a balloon is 2d, and is curved in a 3rd dimension. Space is 3d, but curved in a 4th (or more...) dimension.

Even so, if we decide to exclude this "air (in/out of the balloon)", the "matter" that makes the balloon should have a certain "thickness". I perfectly understand the concept of expansion in all directions (if you are an atom embedded in the balloon material), but still it should be possible to live in one of these atoms/galaxies that are located in the "surface" of the balloon/universe and look "up".

Manuel

You are attributing characteristics to the analogy that the analogy does not have. Ie, mathematically, the surface of a sphere has no thickness. It is 2 dimensional.

Perhaps we should turn this around, though: You think there is an edge. Surely, you must have a reason for this belief. You asked for evidence that there is no edge (and it was provided). Surely there must be some evidence that you've seen that leads you to the conclusion that there is. So...what is it? Be careful, though: We've already provided you with the applicable evidence. The interpretation is simple. Please do not make a claim about the evidence that is factually untrue. Make sure you have looked at the evidence provided. It is extremely frustrating to us when people make such claims and haven't even checked the evidence provided for them.

For example, if there was an edge, you would think that the HUDF would show galaxies at 1 billion light years, 2 billion light years, 3 billion light years, then none any further, indicating an edge at 3 billion light years distant. But it doesn't. It shows galaxies right up to the limit of its sensitivity.

 

[marrsal]

Thanks for the answer. I did look at the evidence provided. I can meditate about it years and years and probably get convinced. However, the hole concept of the evidence given does not fill up my vision. If you say: "matematically the sphere has no thickness", then I have to agree with that. But, I am not talking about mathematics. Then in your second paragraph, it appears you accepted the hypothetical concept of "edge". And said that the HUDF "shows galaxies right up to the limit of its sensitivity" . How sure are you about that? It would make my hands sweat if I type something like that. On regards, of the "evidence that I have seen". I have not seen it on TV or read about it, It is something I have just deeply thougth about. Look up at the sky, and the answer is there. Are you going to say that the "matter" exploded by a supernovas has no outer edge?.

I know it is very frustrating for a mathematician to read "non-sense" sentences of somebody not dedicated to this fascinating field. But it is more frustating to be somebody who thinks about this matters every day an not being able to discuss them with somebody who senses the need to know.

Manuel.

 

[Quisquis]

Then in your second paragraph, it appears you accepted the hypothetical concept of "edge". And said that the HUDF "shows galaxies right up to the limit of its sensitivity" . How sure are you about that?

As you're not a native english speaker I think that this might be a mis-interpretation. What he's saying is that for as far as HUDF can detect ANYTHING, it detects everything. It sees no edge except for the edge created by it's own limitations.

I have not seen it on TV or read about it, It is something I have just deeply thougth about. Look up at the sky, and the answer is there.

As much as I love trying to reason things out(and I really do), for the last hundred years or so, how the universe works and evolves has been beyond the reach of philosophy.

Are you going to say that the "matter" exploded by a supernovas has no outer edge?.

This analogy doesn't really correspond to the standard model. In a super nova you're looking at a 3d occurrence in a 3d environment. The universe expanding is usually seen as a 3d occurrence in a 4+d environment. The difference is just like the balloon analogy; that was a 2d occurrence in a 3d environment.

I know it is very frustrating for a mathematician to read "non-sense" sentences of somebody not dedicated to this fascinating field.

I'll clarify first off: I'm no mathematician, nor do I even hold a degree in any physics related field. I'm just a physics undergrad that enjoys this stuff.

As such, I'm not frustrated at all. Being able to have this conversation makes me think about it more, which helps me understand it more thoroughly.

-QQ

 

[russ_watters]

However, the hole concept of the evidence given does not fill up my vision. If you say: "matematically the sphere has no thickness", then I have to agree with that. But, I am not talking about mathematics.

You really should be talking about mathematics. Geometry is mathematics.

Then in your second paragraph, it appears you accepted the hypothetical concept of "edge". And said that the HUDF "shows galaxies right up to the limit of its sensitivity" . How sure are you about that? It would make my hands sweat if I type something like that.

The makers of the Hubble telescope were quite aware of the limitations of the scope. And it took two pictures: Deep Field and Ultra Deep Field. Ultra deep field showed more galaxies because the exposure was longer, exactly as the astronomers expected it would.

Are you going to say that the "matter" exploded by a supernovas has no outer edge?.

No, I certainly wouldn't. But the Big Bang was not a supernova, so that has no relevance here.

I know it is very frustrating for a mathematician to read "non-sense" sentences of somebody not dedicated to this fascinating field. But it is more frustating to be somebody who thinks about this matters every day an not being able to discuss them with somebody who senses the need to know.

Manuel.

Every scientist does research precisely because they feel the need to know. The problem here is that the approach you are using to find that knowledge is fatally flawed. Meditating is not a path to scientific knowledge. Applying logic to evidence to test the predictions of theories is.

It has been said that Aristotle once reasoned that due to bilateral symetry and the need for stability, that four legs was the appropriate number for an insect to have and he never bothered to check to see if it was actually true. He thought it should be true, and to him, that was enough!

 

[marrsal]

The universe is not logical.

You really should be talking about mathematics. Geometry is mathematics... Applying logic to evidence to test the predictions of theories is.

Do not take me wrong about mathematics, I personally admire them. Geometry is based on mathematics, and mathematics are based on logic. Applying logic to what we call evidence can be fullfilling our own prophesies.

I am not confusing logic with common sense.

I am sorry but the hole concept of a 2D phenomena in a 3D rd dimension, or even worse the presence of parallel universes should not be right. It reminds me the concept of the Earth being flat at the center of the sky and being supported by elephants and turtles, knowing that the moon and sun were round.

The explanation of the deep field and prolonged exposure could have been pretty convincing, but was that found at every direction the Hubble was pointing? Couldn't that be explained by gravitational lensing? If there are galaxies in all directions, where do you leave the cosmic microwave background left?

Manuel.

 

[Quisquis]

The explanation of the deep field and prolonged exposure could have been pretty convincing, but was that found at every direction the Hubble was pointing? Couldn't that be explained by gravitational lensing?

There are large voids that have been found where there is no matter at all, but none of them seem to indicate that there is an end to the universe. I don't really see any way that gravitational lensing could cause some kind of phenomenon that would make it look like galaxies appear to extend further than they really do either.

If there are galaxies in all directions, where do you leave the cosmic microwave background left?

The CMB permeates everything. Just because there's galaxies somewhere doesn't mean that the CMB can't be there too.

 

[DaveC426913]

I am sorry but the hole concept of a 2D phenomena in a 3D rd dimension, or even worse the presence of parallel universes should not be right. It reminds me the concept of the Earth being flat at the center of the sky and being supported by elephants and turtles, knowing that the moon and sun were round.

You've used a good analogy but come to the exact wrong conclusion.

People thought that the Earth was flat because my used their "common sense". It told them that a round Earth would have everything falling off the bottom. What common sense (i.e. previous experience) did they have relating to a round body with attraction being towards its centre? None. Of course they came to the wrong conclusion. How could they come to any other?

It wasn't until we threw away our "common sense" and looked at the facts first, and then reformulated our understanding of the universe that we realized the Earth wasn't flat.

You are in danger of committing the very same mistake by trying to use "common sense" to judge the truthiness of the geometry of the universe. Question: what common sense (i.e previous experiences) do you have about universes that you have any common sense about how they "should" work?

Common sense is fine for everyday experiences - walking down a dark alley, painting a house, pricing hay. Common sense has no place in trying to discover the unknown. Throw away your preconceptions and examine the facts. Let the universe tell you how it is built, not the other way around.

 

[mgb_phys]

Common sense is fine for everyday experiences - walking down a dark alley, painting a house, pricing hay.

A famous physicist replying to someone complaining about how non-intuiative Quantum Mechanics is.
"Yes, because 2m tall savanah dwelling apes should have perfect intuituion about the non-localitry of the electron"