Milkyway:
Amateur astronomy
Imagine: "Three billion (3000000000) years ago in the outer atmosphere of a star similar to the sun, an atom heated by the nuclear reactions boiling in it interior,
emmits light also called a photon when described as a particle. The photon travels through space to a nearby planet orbiting the star, it hits the surface of a
species of an alien life form and is reflected back into space towards Earth. After a journey over three billion Earth years the photon
passes through our solar system, enters Earth atmosphere and is caught in the telescope pointed at the sky from my backyard. The photon finally meets its fate and is
registred in the CCD camera and converted to an electrical signal later to become part an image like the one below"
This is a facinating thought experiment! part of it known to be real and part of what makes astro imaging a facinating experience. At the time these photons
were sent off, Earth is about to spark the development of life as cyanobacteria start to produce oxygen and causes dramatic changes in Earths atmosphere.
In the last blink of an eye in comparison to the time travel of our thought experiment photon, Earth has become inhabited by intelligent life capable of reflecting
over and exploring the universe around us. So get out there under a dark night sky and reflect over existence ;).
Three billion years old light
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M51 Whirlpool galaxy, C8 at F10, SBIG ST-4000XCM -20C 8h20min (50x300sec).
