Comments on: Astronomy/Cosmology http://janfree.wordpress.com I throw these words to the wind. Feel free to grasp them or let them drift away. Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:49:51 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Jan Freeman http://janfree.wordpress.com/philosophyworld-affairs/astronomycosmology/comment-page-1/#comment-687 Jan Freeman Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:50:18 +0000 http://janfree.wordpress.com/?page_id=2221#comment-687 It was confirmed with the knowledge then available. A lot has happened since 1960. Theories must be able to encompass new findings to remain viable. This is an ongoing process and as suggested in the post and references there are still observations that the Big Bang cannot yet explain even after creating new undiscovered physical entities such as dark matter and dark energy. Let's hope the Big Bang keeps on being confirmed by new observations because thanks to intolerance of new ideas we don't have another one to replace it. It was confirmed with the knowledge then available. A lot has happened since 1960. Theories must be able to encompass new findings to remain viable. This is an ongoing process and as suggested in the post and references there are still observations that the Big Bang cannot yet explain even after creating new undiscovered physical entities such as dark matter and dark energy. Let’s hope the Big Bang keeps on being confirmed by new observations because thanks to intolerance of new ideas we don’t have another one to replace it.

]]> By: Ed Darrell http://janfree.wordpress.com/philosophyworld-affairs/astronomycosmology/comment-page-1/#comment-684 Ed Darrell Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:20:28 +0000 http://janfree.wordpress.com/?page_id=2221#comment-684 Please reread what I wrote. Big Bang was confirmed in the 1960s. <a href=\"http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1978/press.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">Wilson and Penzias won the Nobel for disproving Steady State.</a> Today is exciting in cosmology, yes -- <a href=\"http://www.exploratorium.edu/origins/cern/ideas/higgs.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">but because of the search for the Higgs Boson,</a> not for any contest between Big Bang and Steady State. Big Bang was confirmed. Please reread what I wrote. Big Bang was confirmed in the 1960s. Wilson and Penzias won the Nobel for disproving Steady State.

Today is exciting in cosmology, yes — but because of the search for the Higgs Boson, not for any contest between Big Bang and Steady State. Big Bang was confirmed.

]]> By: Jan Freeman http://janfree.wordpress.com/philosophyworld-affairs/astronomycosmology/comment-page-1/#comment-681 Jan Freeman Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:50:13 +0000 http://janfree.wordpress.com/?page_id=2221#comment-681 Thank you. Yes, I'm aware of the works you mentioned and the Big Bang theory and its history. It is interesting, as has been done in the above articles and references, to place the two theories along side each other and compare them. The Steady State Model then appears to still be a viable alternative considering the uncertainties involved in the interpretation of observed quantities. As new observations are made with ever more advanced instruments, the correct theory is likely to emerge before too long. It's quite an exciting time for cosmology. Thank you. Yes, I’m aware of the works you mentioned and the Big Bang theory and its history. It is interesting, as has been done in the above articles and references, to place the two theories along side each other and compare them.
The Steady State Model then appears to still be a viable alternative considering the uncertainties involved in the interpretation of observed quantities.
As new observations are made with ever more advanced instruments, the correct theory is likely to emerge before too long. It’s quite an exciting time for cosmology.

]]> By: Ed Darrell http://janfree.wordpress.com/philosophyworld-affairs/astronomycosmology/comment-page-1/#comment-678 Ed Darrell Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:51:33 +0000 http://janfree.wordpress.com/?page_id=2221#comment-678 <blockquote>3. The microwave background radiation (MCR) For our purposes this is just old radiation that’s been pumped out into space from all directions reaching a cooling limit. This was calculated by Eddington in 1926 as being the lowest temperature to which a body would cool to, given that it is immersed in the radiation of distant starlight. He found 3K which agrees with the observed measurement. BBM cannot predict this value.</blockquote> Gamow and Alpher accurately predicted the measurement, in the 1940s. When radiation at the predicted wavelength was accidentally detected by Wilson and Penzias, they won the Nobel for disproving the Steady State hypothesis and confirming Big Bang. You may want to read up on the history; here are some sources to start: http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/happy-big-bang-day/ http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/science-history-slips-away-ralph-alpher-and-big-bang/

3. The microwave background radiation (MCR)
For our purposes this is just old radiation that’s been pumped out into space from all directions reaching a cooling limit. This was calculated by Eddington in 1926 as being the lowest temperature to which a body would cool to, given that it is immersed in the radiation of distant starlight. He found 3K which agrees with the observed measurement. BBM cannot predict this value.

Gamow and Alpher accurately predicted the measurement, in the 1940s. When radiation at the predicted wavelength was accidentally detected by Wilson and Penzias, they won the Nobel for disproving the Steady State hypothesis and confirming Big Bang. You may want to read up on the history; here are some sources to start:

http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/happy-big-bang-day/

http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/science-history-slips-away-ralph-alpher-and-big-bang/

]]>