Sunday, 10 June 2012

LUCY IN THE SKY- WITH DIAMONDS

I read recently that the Hubble space telescope has enabled scientists to give quite an accurate time schedule for the meeting of our Milky Way galaxy and that of our large neighbour – the Andromeda galaxy. I don’t pretend to even begin to understand the mathematics and computer programs that have allowed them to put a timescale on this event, but for me it’s quite stunning – and they have even imaged the result:


But please don’t panic – this truly amazing scenario is expected to take place in about 3.75 billion years, as they are moving at a speed of about 400,000km/hour so you have time to finish whatever you were doing before you read this blog. What’s more, even after 3.75 billion years, it will take another 2 billion to appear as a single entity.

I have one (small) question….will anyone be around to look up and see this wonder?

Until next time (but in a shorter timescale),

Peripatetic Scribe  

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7 comments:

  1. Peripatetic Scribe10 June 2012 at 08:17

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Anonymous10 June 2012 at 08:20

    Here in the UK we have had the Queens Jubilee, now it's football and soon the Olympics. In the vast scheme of things, all that we do is pretty insignificant. Will anyone be around? Maybe, but I hope by then they will have developed COMMONSENSE!

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  3. Anonymous10 June 2012 at 08:57

    Another totally different blog (or so it seems)! It is a pity that so many brilliant scientists are "wasting" their intellect on such (perhaps even fascinating) things against a backdrop of world hunger and poverty, sovereign debt crisis etc. It is like some Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds for people probably, to make them forget about the real and fundamental issues, to make them bear the burden that's been imposed on them and to make them focus on "safe" topics. It is also a shame how much money is being spent on similar research whilst it would make a difference if used for totally different purposes. Again, we can't avoid to mention those in power who make such research possible and who allocate the funds and, looking at the blog from this perspective, it is not so different from other blogs after all but this does not make it less brilliant.
    Thank you.
    Lucana

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  4. Peripatetic Scribe10 June 2012 at 09:29

    Thanks, UK. Yes you are having a lot of attention but, as Lucana says in her comment, it's transitory. To add to your point on commonsense, my view is we can learn a lot (more) by looking back several thousand years (Incas come to mind) so perhaps commonsense is a cyclic phenomenon!

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  5. Peripatetic Scribe10 June 2012 at 09:35

    Thanks Lucana and you present a different viewpoint. I believe there is a balance that needs to be created. Whilst every piece of "newness" in the science of the "external" is to be applauded as being of benefit to mankind somewhere, sometime, somehow, and understanding the absolute basics of where we are (and indeed, why we are) this has to be in equilibrium with the "internal" needs. Building on your comment, I have no problems with science used for good purposes; what I do not have time for is the race to kill.

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  6. Anonymous10 June 2012 at 10:39

    Hi, P.S. and another "different" piece. Tell me, why did you remove your own comment?

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  7. Peripatetic Scribe10 June 2012 at 10:44

    Thanks, Anonymous. The reason I deleted my own comment was that I received a reply which was full of disgusting language and full of filthy words. Not being very technical, I thought I would respond as usual until s friend showed me how to get rid of the rubbish. Once I had done that, I then decided, naturally, to delete my reply back. Actually it's the first time in 18 months I have had such a response - hopefully it will be the last!

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