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Author Topic:   Galaxy Formation
Geno
Inactive Member


Message 1 of 5 (42528)
06-10-2003 11:49 PM


I've been trying to fill out a gap in my understanding of Big Bang Cosmology and have been having some trouble locating good resources.
I am specifically interested in the period of galactic formation from the first periods of formation to the more modern galaxy forms we see to day and which covers the intervening transitions.
If anyone knows of some good sites or books which posit both a more traditional viewpoint and also some newer thoughts on the issue, I would appreciate it.
wr
Geno

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by NosyNed, posted 06-11-2003 12:00 AM Geno has replied

  
NosyNed
Member
Posts: 8996
From: Canada
Joined: 04-04-2003


Message 2 of 5 (42530)
06-11-2003 12:00 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Geno
06-10-2003 11:49 PM


I don't know anywhere online. I read science news every week and then pick up scientific american or new scientist fairly often.
My understanding gleaned from that is we are just sorting out the mechanisms behind galaxy formation. It is still undergoing a lot of research and new data.
Just recently it was recognized that some "stars" aren't. They are tiny 100 light year across galaxies that may be left over after a galactic collision.
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This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Geno, posted 06-10-2003 11:49 PM Geno has replied

Replies to this message:
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Geno
Inactive Member


Message 3 of 5 (42614)
06-11-2003 6:16 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by NosyNed
06-11-2003 12:00 AM


Galaxy Gap
Ned, Thanks for the link!
quote:
My understanding gleaned from that is we are just sorting out the mechanisms behind galaxy formation. It is still undergoing a lot of research and new data.
That's what I've found too. The most I've gotten is like this one:
quote:
According to our current scientific understanding, at least most galaxies have formed during a comparatively short period, at about the same time, within the first billion years after the universe started to expand, from an initial hot state. Thus they are all almost as old as the universe itself, currently thought to be about 10-15 billion years. It is thought that galaxy formation started when primordial clouds of gaseous matter (hydrogene and helium), the proto-galaxies, were singled out and started to collapse by their own gravity. According to computer simulations, the variety of galaxy forms results from different initial parameters of the proto-galaxies such as the amount of (initial) angular momentum, as well as their later evolution in their environments, such as interaction with other neighboring galaxies.
Which is really just a starting point, but does sound like what we see in the Hubble Deep Field pictures...
Here's the link for the above quote if you want it:
No webpage found at provided URL: http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/messier/galaxy.html
It has some more links at the bottom which I haven't gotten to yet.
I'm interested in this because it seems like there's a real gap of concordance between theoretical physics [Big Bang] and observational physics [astronomy]. I think it's correct in a macro sense, but until we work out the details it's hard to refute a counterpointing argument.
wr/Geno

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 Message 2 by NosyNed, posted 06-11-2003 12:00 AM NosyNed has not replied

  
sup32string
Inactive Member


Message 4 of 5 (47548)
07-26-2003 10:22 PM


If you seek more information on the universe i would check out the book " The Universe in a Nutshell" by Stephen Hawkings. As far as the formation of galaxies go its an ongoing process of formation and evolution. If you want I can at a little later time dig out my books and try to find the info you seek, but if you get the book you can see for yourself. The book is really easy to read and illustrated. As far as some stars being galaxies 100 light years across, they can and are much larger than that. Here are some cool pages you may like,
http://www.astrobio.net/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=...
PhysLink.com: Physics and Astronomy Online
http://www.astrobio.net/news/index.php
How many stars are in the universe? | Space
Hubble Home
SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids
Check them out.
[This message has been edited by sup32string, 07-26-2003]

Replies to this message:
 Message 5 by chrisc, posted 08-05-2003 6:57 AM sup32string has not replied

  
chrisc
Inactive Member


Message 5 of 5 (48751)
08-05-2003 6:57 AM
Reply to: Message 4 by sup32string
07-26-2003 10:22 PM


Read...
There are many astronomy books on this subject, but I would suggest that you read the book "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan. Specifically, read the Chapters entitled The Lives of Stars, and especially The Edge of Forever. It talks not of Sagan's religious beliefs in these chapters, but will give you a comprehensive look at star/galaxy formation that is backed by the majority of scientists worldwide.
Furthermore, you might find some comprehensive answers to galaxy formation in a basic astronomy class offered at a junior college or university. There's some very usefull information to be found there. Lastly, you can read "A brief history of Time" or "The Universe in a Nutshell" by Steven Hawking, as the last poster posted.
The findings of science are increasing daily. For example, we now know that the majority of the universe is made from dark matter, matter that we can't see from our position in the universe. All we can see is the matter that is giving off some type of radiation, such as light. I could explain the formation of galaxies in more depth, but I'm tired so maybe I'll do it later. Cosmos will provide general answers, and you can buy it for about $7.00 or get it from your local library.
Later.
[This message has been edited by chrisc, 08-05-2003]

This message is a reply to:
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