A question I've been asking myself more and more frequently lately is how important astronomy, at least the astronomy of space beyond the solar system, really is. Obviously enough, celestial bodies millions of light-years away can hardly have any relevance to human needs, and, even if their interactions threaten us, there's little we can do about it.
Interstellar travel does not seem to be something we can realistically anticipate, at least in the next few centuries. Perhaps in the dim and distant future, ways and means will be found, but for the time being, the issue is dead.
Nonetheless, the stars are endlessly fascinating, giving rise to all sorts of visions of gleaming empires in remote galaxies. Here are some beautiful color-enhanced photographs of galaxies and nebulae from National Aeronautics and Space Administration's
First, glance at a table of distances and comprehend the impossibility of reaching these galaxies and nebulae.
|
Table of Distances in Light-Years | |||||
|
Crab |
6,300 |
V838 |
20,000 |
NGC2237 |
5,200 |
|
NGC6751 |
6,500 |
M51a |
23,000,000 |
M17 |
6,000 |
|
NGC6822 |
1,600,000 |
Horsehead |
1,600 |
Hodge 301 |
168,000 |
|
M100 |
52,500,000 |
NGC2080 |
168,000 |
SN 1604 |
20,000 |
|
Eagle |
7,000 |
47 Tucanae |
13,400 |
WR 124 |
21,000 |
The Crab Nebula M1 (NGC 1952)
NGC 6751: Glowing Eye Nebula in Aquila
Hubble-V in NGC 6822
Galaxy M100 (NGC 4321)
Eagle Nebula, NGC 6611 or M16
Star V838, Monocerotis
Whirlpool Galaxy M51a (NGC 5194)
Horsehead Nebula
(Barnard 33 in Nebula IC 434)
Star-Forming Region NGC2080
(Ghost Head Nebula)
Globular Cluster in 47 Tucanae (NGC 104)
Rosette Nebula NGC2237 (H-Alpha)
M17 Omega Nebula (NGC 6618)
Hodge 301 in the Tarantula Nebula
Supernova 1604, Kepler's Supernova
Nebula around Star WR124
Photo Credits:
Hubble Space Telescope:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/antoon/296789417/
The Crab Nebula M1 (NGC 1952):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Crab_Nebula.jpg
NGC 6751: Glowing Eye Nebula in Aquila:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:NGC6751.jpg
Hubble-V in NGC 6822:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:2001-39-a-full_jpg.jpg
Galaxy M100 (NGC 4321):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Spiral_Galaxy_M100.jpg
Eagle Nebula, NGC 6611 or M16:
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/nebula_collection/pr2005012e/large_web
Star V838, Monocerotis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:V838_Mon_HST.jpg
Whirlpool Galaxy M51a (NGC 5194)
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr2001010a/large_web
Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33 in Nebula IC 434):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Horsehead-Hubble.jpg
Star-Forming Region NGC2080 (Ghost Head Nebula):
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr2001034a/
Globular Cluster in 47 Tucanae (NGC 104):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:47tuc_salt.jpg
Rosette Nebula NGC2237 (H-Alpha):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rosette_nebula_s.jpg
M17 Omega Nebula (NGC 6618)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Omega_Nebula.jpg
Hodge 301 in the Tarantula Nebula:
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/galaxy_collection/pr1999012a/large_web
Supernova 1604, Kepler's Supernova:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Keplers_supernova.jpg
Nebula around Star WR124:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wolf_rayet2.jpg
