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Oracle of DelphiThe Glow of the Universe's First Objects
December 20th 2006 05:16
A NASA telescope has captured what might just be the light of the universe's very first objects. Scientists believe these original objects to be either powerful black holes sucking in space gases and spewing out enormous energy or immense stars thousands of times bigger than our own sun.
NASA astronomers carefully studied the background infrared light in the Spitzer space telescope images. It is believed that some of this light is from stars or black holes so very far away that their original ultaviolet or visual light became stretched by the expansion of the universe INTO infrared wavelengths.
In the first part of the analysis, scientists removed all distracting light from foreground galaxies and stars, leaving only the glow of the very oldest objects said to be 13 billion light years away. Turning their attention to the brightness intensity fluctuations of this glow, they found that the infrared light is scattered throughout space in patchy clumps.
Dr. Alexander Kashlinsky of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center comments, "whatever these objects are, they are intrinsically incredibly bright and very different from anything in existence today."
NASA will continue the quest to decipher the mysteries of the universe's origins when the future James Webb Space Telescope is ready to peer into the light of the distant distant past. The James Webb should be able to unlock the true identify of these clusters.
To read more on this story go to NASA
The right image is original Spitzer telescope picture. The Left is with foreground stars, galaxies, etc. removed
NASA astronomers carefully studied the background infrared light in the Spitzer space telescope images. It is believed that some of this light is from stars or black holes so very far away that their original ultaviolet or visual light became stretched by the expansion of the universe INTO infrared wavelengths.
In the first part of the analysis, scientists removed all distracting light from foreground galaxies and stars, leaving only the glow of the very oldest objects said to be 13 billion light years away. Turning their attention to the brightness intensity fluctuations of this glow, they found that the infrared light is scattered throughout space in patchy clumps.
Dr. Alexander Kashlinsky of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center comments, "whatever these objects are, they are intrinsically incredibly bright and very different from anything in existence today."
NASA will continue the quest to decipher the mysteries of the universe's origins when the future James Webb Space Telescope is ready to peer into the light of the distant distant past. The James Webb should be able to unlock the true identify of these clusters.
To read more on this story go to NASA
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Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Comment by pegasus
Poker Addict
It is both exhilarating and humbling to think of the Universe & its beginnings.
here's a melon scratcher: if the Universe includes everything and its expanding, then WHAT is it expanding into?
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Hugs,
Peg
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Merry Christmas from sunny Australia! *<BoP~
*virtual hugs aplenty*