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The Birth and Evolution of GalaxiesWebsite archive 1995-2013 |
Victoria Centre is part of the national Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, which is dedicated to bringing information about astronomy to the general public. |
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Time Machines, Cannibalism and Chemical Pollution Dr Puragra Guhathakurta (Raja)
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The "direct look-back method" relies on the fact that looking at very distant galaxies also implies that we are looking at them as they were in the distant past. In that sense, telescopes are time machines that take us back into the history of our Universe. |
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The "fossil record method" relies on the fact that the present-day properties of galaxies around us bear subtle clues about past processes that have sculpted them into being. The merging and cannibalism of galaxies is an important process in shaping galaxies. A significant observable clue is the degree to which a galaxy has been "polluted" with heavy elements (iron, calcium, carbon, magnesium, etc) formed in previous generations of stars. |
This multi-media presentation (computer animation/video/poster) will contain the latest results of observations carried out with the twin 10-meter Keck telescopes, the world's largest optical telescopes, and the Hubble Space Telescope. A technique called "adaptive optics" is revolutionizing optical astronomy, and there will be a brief demonstration of this technique.
Raja's website: www.ucolick.org/~raja/
Astronomy: Galaxies, Time, and Light - download the 4Mb PowerPoint presentation file
Astronomy: Galaxies, Time, and Light - run the presentation in your web browser - requires JavaScript-capable browser
Hint: Click on the "Slide Show" icon to be found at the bottom right of the browser window to get a full screen slide show. Tap your spacebar to advance the slide show in sequence (be patient - wait for the next image to download!). Hit the "Esc" key at any time to get your browser window back.
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