Question on how stars are located

  • Thread starter jackcr
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Stars
In summary: Basically, the refractive index in space affects how EM radiation travels, so different frequencies can come in at different times, and we don't yet have instruments that can measure this as easily as we can measure other things. The black hole area is called the "singularity" because it's where the math starts to go wrong, and we don't know what happens inside of it. We think that information might be something like the charge of particles that are entering the black hole, but we don't really know for sure.
  • #1
jackcr
8
0
Just a thought - does the universe have the equal of a refractive index so to speak, to measure where stars are, due to gravity curving spacetime.

thanks
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2
Oh and why can't we see the things trapped inside a black hole?
 
  • #3
Jesus, ofcourse its cause the light can't even escape. So it can't reach us. Duh
 
  • #4
jackcr said:
Oh and why can't we see the things trapped inside a black hole?

because there's no way for light to escape from the event horizon of a black hole. Light goes in, does not come out, therefore we don't see anything.
 
  • #5
I heard that at the bottom of the black hole there is only light, what would the light look like? Would it just be like light say from a bulb?
 
  • #6
jackcr said:
I heard that at the bottom of the black hole there is only light, what would the light look like? Would it just be like light say from a bulb?

I'm pretty sure it's impossible for us to say anything about the insides of a black hole since it is impossible for information to go between there and here. Our physics probably does not work beyond the event horizon therefore we can't do anything but speculate.
 
  • #7
Wow, so if it was not impossible, we could theoretically need a whole new set of laws of physics. Thats crazy. So even information cannot escape? What would you define as information?
 
  • #8
well you know that an object is moving because you can see it moving over time, the light travels from it to your eyes and you see that it moves. If something was in a black hole and doing stuff, there would be no way to know it was doing those things because no light could get out of the black hole.
 
  • #9
jackcr said:
Wow, so if it was not impossible, we could theoretically need a whole new set of laws of physics. Thats crazy. So even information cannot escape? What would you define as information?

A few things here. First, to answer your question, according to my understanding the refractive index of interstellar space is NOT equal. The gas and dust affects the light as it travels. One of the consequences of this is that certain frequencies of EM radiation from pulsars and other events arrive at different times, requiring us to account for this when measuring these events. For simple pictures the effect isn't that severe. Our current instruments are limited more by diffraction than by the interstellar medium. What this means is that we still have plenty of ways to go before our telescopes are so big that the ISM becomes a major factor.

As for black holes, our current laws work fine until they get near the inside of the black hole near the center, where the math starts to produce infinities and nonsense. This area is called the "singularity". By information we mean things like the charge of infalling particles or other properties.
 
  • #10
Thanks, you've cleared up quite a few things there.
 

FAQ: Question on how stars are located

How do scientists determine the location of stars?

Scientists use a variety of techniques, such as measuring the star's distance from Earth through parallax, analyzing its spectral characteristics, and using mathematical models to calculate its position in the night sky.

Can stars move and change their location?

Yes, stars can move and change their location due to various factors such as their own motion, gravitational interactions with other celestial bodies, and the expansion of the universe.

Are stars located randomly in the sky?

No, stars have specific locations in the sky based on their position within our galaxy and their relative distance from Earth. However, their locations may appear random due to the Earth's rotation and our changing perspective from different locations on the planet.

How do scientists name and identify different stars?

Scientists use a variety of naming systems, including Greek letters, Bayer designations, and catalog numbers, to identify and classify stars based on their location, brightness, and other characteristics.

Is it possible to determine the location of stars in other galaxies?

Yes, scientists can use similar techniques as those used for stars in our own galaxy to determine the location of stars in other galaxies. However, due to the vast distances involved, this process is more complex and challenging.

Similar threads

I How does gravitational self-interaction affect the Milky Way Galaxy?
Replies
3
Views
1K
I Expansion of a star to become a red giant
Replies
6
Views
468
I How Does the Size of Neutron Stars Compare to Black Holes?
2
Replies
48
Views
3K
B Neutron star 4U 1820-30 spins at 716 revolutions per second
Replies
0
Views
330
I How Can We Measure Properties of Distant Planets and Stars?
Replies
12
Views
2K
A Very last pulse from a neutron star
Replies
2
Views
920
I J0524-0336, surprisingly high Li concentration
Replies
2
Views
799
B Vulpecula, pulsars and neutron stars
Replies
10
Views
2K
I How accurate is the distance to M4 and its stars according to different sources?
Replies
2
Views
1K
B Is it possible for a giant star to have a black hole inside it?
Replies
11
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top