APOD 2004 Feb 21

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
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makc
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APOD 2004 Feb 21

Post by makc » Thu Sep 01, 2005 6:17 am

I came there from today's APOD link. Just thought could it be that it's not NGC 4622 rotates clockwise, but it's Milky Way rotates faster, and hence an illusion :?:

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BMAONE23
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Post by BMAONE23 » Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:04 pm

Isn't it a matter of perspective though. if you look at a clock face on, the hands rotate clockwise (hence the phrase) but if you look at the clock from the reverse side the hands appear to rotate counter-clockwise. All galaxies may in fact rotate in only one direction but due to our perspective, they appear to rotate differently. It is wierd though that the arms rotate opposite to the direction of their spiral.

lllbr0kenlll
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weird

Post by lllbr0kenlll » Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:44 pm

i didnt know that...
really,.. they rotate like a saw blade....like digging into space?

Empeda
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Post by Empeda » Fri Sep 30, 2005 12:15 pm

Not usually - this is an unusual example - probably as a result of a galactic collision.
I'm an Astrophysics Graduate from Keele University, England - doesn't mean I know anything but I might be able to help!

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