In this exercise you will have the opportunity to view some videos. These videos will give insight on the topic of galaxies, the first few minutes after the Big Bang and how technology has enabled astronomers to look further and probe deeper. EQUIPMENT A computer. You will be watching the videos on the websites listed below. EXERCISE A. Go to https://wm.youtube.com/vvatch?v=KszY0efqxWc&feature=youtu.be and watch the video called Monster of the Milky Way. Answer the following questions: 1. How did astronomers pinpoint the center of the Milky Way? 2. Give two unusual definitions of a black hole as described in Chapter 2 of this video. 3. What does it mean when they say -gravity becomes a rip tide?” 4. What was the obstacle to viewing the galactic center and how was the obstacle overcome? 5. How massive is the black hole at the center of our galaxy compared to normal black holes? 6. Where do objects get “spaghettified”? 7. What has the Sloan Digital Sky Survey shown about black holes? 8. What is the role of galactic cannibalism in the structure of galaxies? 9. With which galaxy can the Milky Way collide and what will be the consequence? 10. Write your overall impression of this video. B. Go to https://media.dcccd.edu/video.php?vid=6786 and watch the video called The Great Photon Escape. Answer the following questions: 11. Was the Big Bang accompanied by a giant flash of light? 12. Why is the Cosmic Microwave Background also called the universe’s baby picture? 13. What was the age of the universe when the Cosmic Microwave Background emerged?
- What kind of temperature variations does the Cosmic Microwave Background show? 15. If the universe was dense and hot when it was first formed, why was it dark? 16. Did stars exist when the Cosmic Microwave Background photon escaped? 17. What is reionization? 18. What is the name of the new telescope that will succeed the Hubble Space Telescope? C. Go to https://www.youtube.comlwatch?v=a7_xV8Lgw8 and watch the video called Looking Deep. Answer the following questions: 19. Why was it necessary to find a “boring’ area to make the Hubble Deep Field? 20. How far away are most of the distant galaxies in this image? 21. What problems do solar wind particles create in making these images and how are the problems resolved? 22. How many images in how many colored filters were used to make the Deep Field? D. Go to https://www.youtube.comhwatch?v=ofpnjvUxbGU&feature=youtu.be and watch the video called Hubble’s Extreme Deep Field Sees Farther Back in Time. Answer the following questions: 23. Why is taking a look deep into the universe like taking a trip down memory lane? 24. What year was Hubble’s Ultra Deep Field taken? 25. What extra wavelength of light, beyond the visible, was used to create the Hubble’s Extreme Deep Field?
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