Fun Facts (at least fun theories) about our cosmos:
• The Universe spans a diameter of over 150 billion light years.
• There Are at Least 10 Billion Trillion Stars in the Universe
• Our Galaxy Is on a Collision Course with the Andromeda Galaxy
• The Earth is not flat – but the Universe is not. Based on Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, there are three possible shapes that the Universe may take: open, closed, and flat. Once again, measurements by WMAP on the CMBR have revealed a monumental confirmation – the Universe is flat.
• There is no such thing as the Universe’s center. Every galaxy is expanding away from one another.
• Even When You’re Standing Still, You’re Still Moving. A human body, or any object on the Earth, is never at rest. Even when you’re asleep in bed, you’re moving pretty fast. Our Milky Way Galaxy is rotating at 225 kilometers per second, and hurling through the cosmos at an estimated 305 kilometers per second.
Add those figures together, and we’re racing through space at around 530 kilometers, or 330 miles per second. So in one minute’s time, you’ve traveled almost 20,000 kilometers, or more than 12,000 miles. And your friends always complain that you never go anywhere.
• There May Be More Universes: The idea that we live in a multiverse, in which our universe is one of many, comes from a theory called eternal inflation, which suggests that shortly after the Big Bang, space-time expanded at different rates in different places.
According to the theory, this gave rise to bubble universes that could function with their own separate laws of physics.
• At the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, there is a black hole millions of times the mass of the most massive object in the solar system, the Sun.
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| You Are Here. Now you Know. |
Cosmology Trivia: Our Earth travels around the sun at a speed of about 18.5 miles a second and is held in orbit by our sun’s gravitational effect on it. If the sun ceased to exist at this very moment, along with its gravitational grip on our planet, how long would it take Earth to zing straight off into space?
Answer in tomorrow’s post D is for Dreams
I love cosmology! The universe is so mind-bogglingly huge, and I love it!
ReplyDeleteSince Earth is 8 light minutes away from the sun, I think it would take about that long for the gravitational pull of the sun to disappear as well.
Oh Wow! I haven't got a clue! but I love this post, have given you a shout out from my own A to Z post today at http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/ Am meeting some fantastic people long the tour.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rosie for the shout out!
DeleteHi Stephen .. zero time .. it would just vanish.. but a flat universe - now that is strange ... and after I've typed this I'll have flown over and possibly be ready to land at the next passing?! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteAwesome Post! Yikes, I don't know the answer but I'll take a wild guess, like withing minutes...?
ReplyDeleteWe'd start zinging off into space right away, but no one would be around to see it as we'd all freeze to death.
ReplyDeleteI loved the facts but I wouldn't be able to answer the question :) I'm in a different universe when it comes to knowledge about physics in our universe! lol
ReplyDeleteAndrea, #atozchallenge Mighty Minion Asset
Oh wow, I didn't know a lot of this. It's weird to think that I'm travelling so fast just sitting here at my computer.
ReplyDeleteLaura, and it's gravity that holds you in place while sitting in your chair, rotating in place, revolving around the sun, while our galaxy zips through space.
DeleteI had always understood 8 minutes. Those figures are quite incredible. The thing that has always made me wonder, the universe is so big, but what's at the end of it?
ReplyDeleteJo, you are the closest. Eight minutes and twenty seconds. Well done.
Delete"And your friends always complain that you never go anywhere." -- Crack. Me. Up! GREAT post! Chock full of information...
ReplyDeleteNice presentation of info, I always loved this subject, because the universe possibilities are pretty much endless, at least my puny human mind.
ReplyDeleteFatma, it's exciting to live in these times as we continue to unlock the secrets of our universe.
DeleteSo many fascinating tidbits but have to keep these A to Z posts short. Are we having fun yet? I know I am.
ReplyDeleteWow, I should be feeling motion sick. Guess none of us will witness the collision with Andromeda
ReplyDeleteGood stuff. But... could it be that we perceive the universe as being flat simply because it is SO BIG we can't detect a curve or anything else that might indicate a shape?
ReplyDeleteThen vertigo isn't my imagination? I wonder if we can get Andromeda insurance for less than we can get earthquake insurance out here in CA?
ReplyDeleteAlways learn tons here, but some of it makes me nervous. :-)
Hahaha yeah me too.
DeleteI suppose this explains why so many people are so dizzy all the time. I'm thoroughly enjoying this journey through space and time with you, Stephen.
ReplyDeleteMJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Writing Tips
Effectively Human
Lots of Crochet Stitches
So...I can tell my trainer that I exercised today then?
ReplyDeleteTechnically, yes.
DeleteWow, some excellent information. My son would love your blog. Thanks for sharing, and happy A to Z'ing. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's too big. It's all too big!
ReplyDeleteAt one time I wanted to be an astronomer. This stuff still fascinates me.
ReplyDeleteLiz, so did I. But we can still be amateur astronomers right in our own back yards.
DeleteAgain I'll say its amazing what you can see at night with a cheap telescope, a good set of binoculars, or the naked eye.
ReplyDeleteOooh, great topic! Such fascinating stuff. (Also we have the same D word for tomorrow :)
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(From Sarah, With Joy)
The COSMOS is always a great topic! My D was for dreams but how do I compete with you? I think I'll come up with another D #a2zchallenge great to connect ! I am #1547 http://4covert2overt.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteMCV, I'm sure dozens of people will have Dreams for D tomorrow. I look forward to your post.
DeleteReading your posts "backwards" is fun, as I already know the answers! My mind is boggled trying to comprehend the size and shape of, well, anything you've written about! Stunning and so very interesting...
ReplyDelete