Why RCW 86 distance, age different? Bethlehem*? (28 Sep 06)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
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gaugebosons
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Why RCW 86 distance, age different? Bethlehem*? (28 Sep 06)

Post by gaugebosons » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:17 am

that would make sense, since the Jesus myth is a mix of repackaged Buddhism and the Horus/Isis story carried over from egypt and it's about the same time period and in the direction of finding out from "the East" from China.

Pat
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RCW 86 distance (APOD 28 Sep 2006)

Post by Pat » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:22 am

Hi,

The APOD description says that RCW 86 is 8200 light years away. How can something that far away be the supernova seen in 185 AD, about 2000 years ago?

Pat

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Qev
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Post by Qev » Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:32 am

Well, the fact that it's 8200 light years away simply means that what we see of RCW 86 is 8200 years out of date for what's occurring there 'now'. So, when the Chinese astronomers observed the supernova occuring in 185 AD, it had actually occurred in 8015 BC, but the light was only then reaching them.

What we're observing now is the supernova remnant left behind by the supernova event, now 1821 years old from our perspective.

Basically, everything we see of this object is on a time-delay of 8200 years. :)
Don't just stand there, get that other dog!

harry
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Post by harry » Thu Sep 28, 2006 8:07 am

Hello Pat

Welcome to the Asterisk.

Qev hit the nail on the head.

Here is a link you may like

http://www.aao.gov.au/images/general/su ... rames.html
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS


http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040907.html
The closest and brightest supernova in over a decade was recorded just over a month ago in the outskirts of nearby galaxy NGC 2403
Harry : Smile and live another day.

RWKWKWK
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Why is RCW 86 distance and age so different? (28 Sep 2006)

Post by RWKWKWK » Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:50 pm

The text for the Sept 28, 06 picture "RCW 86: Historical Supernova Remnant" describes it as being observed 1821 years ago and being 8200 light years away.
Robert

Pat
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Post by Pat » Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:13 pm

thanks, that makes sense.

Pat

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BMAONE23
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Post by BMAONE23 » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:01 pm

That would simply mean that the catastrophic event occured just over 10,000 years ago. 1821 years ago the light that has been traveling for 8200 years finally reached us. 8200 + 1821 = 10021 years ago that the star exploded.

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BMAONE23
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Post by BMAONE23 » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:03 pm

Yes Qev is right. The star actually exploded approx 10,021 years ago.

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