Author Question: Process of Science: Describe how scientists measure the distances to galaxies, starting with how ... (Read 27 times)

jon_i

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 549
Process of Science: Describe how scientists measure the distances to galaxies, starting with how they measure the distances of the nearest stars.
 
  Be sure to include enough detail so that someone who does not know the jargon of astronomy can still understand your explanation.

Question 2

How old is the Galaxy? How do we know this?
 
  What will be an ideal response?



Jayson

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 350
Answer to Question 1

They use parallax to get the distance to nearby stars and then use standard candles to measure farther distances.

Answer to Question 2

The H-R diagrams of the globular clusters in the halo suggest they are 10-12 billion years old; their spherical distribution suggests they formed very early, before rotation had flattened the rest of the Galaxy out into a disk.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

As of mid-2016, 18.2 million people were receiving advanced retroviral therapy (ART) worldwide. This represents between 43–50% of the 34–39.8 million people living with HIV.

Did you know?

The modern decimal position system was the invention of the Hindus (around 800 AD), involving the placing of numerals to indicate their value (units, tens, hundreds, and so on).

Did you know?

Amphetamine poisoning can cause intravascular coagulation, circulatory collapse, rhabdomyolysis, ischemic colitis, acute psychosis, hyperthermia, respiratory distress syndrome, and pericarditis.

Did you know?

Sperm cells are so tiny that 400 to 500 million (400,000,000–500,000,000) of them fit onto 1 tsp.

Did you know?

Most strokes are caused when blood clots move to a blood vessel in the brain and block blood flow to that area. Thrombolytic therapy can be used to dissolve the clot quickly. If given within 3 hours of the first stroke symptoms, this therapy can help limit stroke damage and disability.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library