Exploring the Universe Through Telescope
Introduction
- Objective: Discover the furthest visible object through a telescope.
- Location: La Palma, Athos Observatory, known for dark skies and clear conditions.
Equipment and Preparation
- Telescope: Using a 12-inch Newtonian for faint objects.
- Additional Gear: Homemade Peltier cooler to reduce dark current.
- Observation Strategy: Taking steps 1000 times further than the last target.
- Universe Age: 13.7 billion years. Aim to see objects billions of light years away.
Initial Observations
- Starting Point: The Moon, 384,000 miles away, light takes 1.3 seconds to reach us.
- Jupiter: 600 million miles away, light takes 40 minutes to reach us.
Journeying Further
- Beyond Jupiter: A cloud of comets potentially originating from 2 light years away.
- Orion Spur and Nebulae: Star-forming regions; Orion Nebula and Flame Nebula.
- Globular Cluster: Light set off as humans evolved, 100,000 light years away.
Reaching Other Galaxies
- Andromeda Galaxy: 2.5 million light years away, visible with the naked eye.
- Whirlpool Galaxy: 30 million light years away, two galaxies in collision.
Exploring Galaxy Clusters
- Galaxy Clusters: 300 million light years away, showing red shift due to universe expansion.
Breaking the Billion Light Year Barrier
- Quasars: Brightest objects, powered by supermassive black holes. Attempt to see a quasar 8 billion light years away.
- Gravitational Lensing: Observing doubled images due to heavy objects bending light.
Challenges and Limitations
- Technical Issues: Laptop updates interrupted data collection.
- Observational Limits: Difficulty seeing beyond certain distances, reliant on long exposures.
Summary and Closing
- Conclusions: Managed to see objects billions of light years away, close to universe's edge.
- Acknowledgements: Thanking supporters, patrons, and collaborators.
- Future Plans: Encouraging further exploration and support through prints and telescopes.
Additional Resources
- Prints and Merchandise: Limited edition space prints available.
- Telescope Recommendations: Affordable options for budding astronomers.
- Music for Relaxation: Available across streaming platforms to enhance the observational experience.
These notes summarize the main points of the lecture on exploring distant cosmic objects through advanced telescopic technology and the marvels visible from one of the best observational sites on Earth.