Harlow Shapley Provided Some Useful Information in

Harlow Shapley provided some useful information in determining some of the greatest mysterious about the cosmos. Shapley essentially believed that sun was not the center point of the galactic frontier. In the first decade of the 29th century not much was known about the Milky Way but Shapley soon hypothesized some useful arguments that suggested that our universe is much larger and diverse than we can possibly imagine.

To support his argument about a non-heliocentric theory of the galactic composition, he used the powerful technology available to measure a type of celestial object known as Cepheid stars. Shapley used the behavior of these stars to determine that sun was not the center of the galaxy. By assuming that these stars were the nearly the same size he figured he could measure the luminosity of these stars and therefore figure out a linear distance to the stars.

Using these distances, and some rather absurd assumptions about the limitations of the cosmos, he guessed that the our solar system was not at the center of the Milky Way. Question 2 The idea of a cluster is simple: a grouping of objects. In astronomy groups forms for what we assume for real and important purposes. Two kinds of sidereal clustering appears in our observations of space. Globular clusters are one of these forms that helps give some clues about the nature of the universe.

Globular clusters are groups of stars that appear to orbit around galaxies. Galactic clusters, another type of formation, are much larger objects and are groupings of galaxies. Essentially they are the same types of pattern but materialized on much different relative scales. Globular clusters may contain millions of stars. Such qualities of any clustering of stars including richness, intensity, luminosity, pattern and frequency are of great importance in finding the undermining purpose and effects of these patterns.

When contemplating the idea of galactic clusters it is quiet awe inspiring and difficult to really understand the sheer sizes and distances such measurements elicit within the human psyche. Globular star clusters most likely provide more relevant information about man's place in the universe due to our closer, albeit still very differing, relation to the size, shape and scope of their form. Question 3 It is obvious that astronomy is essentially more of an art than science.

The many photographs that are taken in the observation of its actions, must be heavily processed by artificial means to gain any understanding of larger meaning. All we have are our models and little else. Testing these models is very difficult, but there are some ways that can be of use when determining the distances between galaxies. One such way of determining interstellar distances is to observe the HII regions of a galaxy. H II regions are areas of hydrogen gas that has been ionized.

The presence of this substance allows for scientists to measure the luminosity these regions produce and hence deduce a reasonable idea of the size of the galaxy. Measuring other qualities of the H. II region of the galaxy such as speed can also contribute to this modeling technique regardless of the weak premises it is based upon. Cepheid variables may also help astronomers find galactic distance. By first finding the magnitude of that star and comparing those readings over a period of time.

A relationship may be interpreted to determine distance due to mathematical equations that relate the pulsing rate and indicate distance from a known point. Question 4 Determining the mass of a galaxy is quite complex and maybe an impossible task to achieve for humanity in its current state of consciousness. The incredible distances and measures that are observed in space tell us only a small fraction of what is possible.

Dark matter, according to most astronomers, make up a vast majority of the contents of the universe exposing science's true ignorance to what is happening both in and outside our world. Observing star clusters, often thousands or more light years away allows astronomers to play with the idea that they can possibly measure the mass of galaxy. This method assumes so many things that any interpretation of results must explicitly describe the premises that this model attempts otherwise it appears to be pure fiction.

Clusters of stars, observed at these distances are not accurate or modern readings. These clusters are merely telling us their position many thousands of light years ago. What is happening in that star cluster now, should be assumed to have changed and evolved. This delay.