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View Full Version : How far can your cat see into the universe?


Count Iblis
Sep8-09, 01:02 PM
This is a list of galaxies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_galaxies#List_of_naked-eye_galaxies) that have been seen with the naked-eye by humans. So, humans can see 14.7 million light years into the universe, unless you believe in the rumors about M101 being seen (http://www.serifone.de/messierne.htm). M101 is 27 million light years away.

I've read that the eye of a cat can collect about 20 times more light than the eye of a human. Then, given the brightness of the dimmest galaxies that have been seen by humans, that seems to imply that all the galaxies listed here (http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/galax200.html) should be visible to a cat.

fawk3s
Sep8-09, 01:23 PM
does the fact (presumably) that a cat's eye can collect more light than an eye of a man really mean that a can can see further?
im not the smartest person and pretty new to this forum, but to me it seems that it only makes the cat see wider.
plus, i think it also depends alot on the ciliary muscles of the eye of cats.

mazinse
Sep12-09, 03:48 PM
yeah good point, more light = better resolution, not magnification. Basic microscope concepts.

Bob S
Sep12-09, 04:12 PM
Cat's eyes have a "mirror" behind the retina to reflect light back into the light sensor cells. See
http://www.agarman.dial.pipex.com/bco/fact4.htm
Our neighbor's cat maybe could see galaxies, but she didn't see the coyote that got her last night. She wasn't the smartest cat on the block.