This picture is one of the newest images of the aftermath of the collision of two galaxies. Many galactic collisions have been photographed. This one is in Ursa Major about 500 million light years away. First of all, it is amazing to me that we can even see something 500 million light years away. The concept of looking back in time as you look into space also never ceases to amaze me. And while this was an incredibly violent event (500 million years ago), it is sublimely beautiful to observe from a safe distance. When I see these photos I again question why we so desperately need to believe in our various gods. The universe is so incredible and beautiful all by itself that, to me, having to impose some human-like will upon it actually diminishes its grandeur.
6 comments:
What a spectacular shot!
How did you get this shot with your camera??? Did you have to zoom in all the way?
I just hooked up my Canon to the Mt. Palomar telescope and viola!
I just hooked up my Canon to the Mt. Palomar telescope and viola!
So funny you had to say it twice.
;-P
That whole "looking at the past" thing in terms of events in space just blows my mind. My son and I heard Bob Kirschner last year, and he was talking about a telescope that is so powerful it can zero in on some of the activity surrounding the Big Bang. The rest of the week I had to go around holding my head to keep it from blowing up. So amazing.
Thanks for keeping the space thing going. It's fun to share with Son of Mando.
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