Science Common Sense
1800 - How do measurements of celestial distances help us understand the large-scale structure of the universe.
Measuring how far away stars, galaxies, and other objects in space are helps us learn about the universe in a few ways:
- Mapping the universe: By knowing how far away things are, we can create a 3D map of the universe. This helps us see how galaxies and stars are grouped together in clusters and superclusters.
- Understanding galaxy motion: Measuring distances helps us see how galaxies are moving. We can figure out if they're moving towards or away from us, and how fast. This tells us a lot about how the universe is expanding and how gravity affects it.
- Learning about the universe's past: When we look at distant objects, we're seeing them as they were in the past. Light takes time to travel, so the farther away something is, the longer it took for the light to reach us. By measuring distances, we can learn about the universe's history and how it's changed over time.
By measuring celestial distances, we can better understand the big picture of the universe – how it's organized, how it's moving, and how it's evolved over time.